Showdown in Virginia — Panel meets to review state’s certificate-of-public-need law

Virginia Health Secretary William A. Hazel Jr. appointed a work group comprised of hospital CEOs, doctors and healthcare executives to review Virginia’s laws that regulate medical facilities and services, according to The Washington Post.

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Here are four points:

1. Opponents of the law claim it stifles competition and innovation in Virginia’s healthcare industry. The law requires the state health commissioner’s pre-approval for hospital expansions, surgery centers and specific medical services.

2. The work group has until Dec. 1 to recommend the legislature repeal, leave or change the regulations.

3. The majority of Republicans in the General Assembly support rolling back or eliminating the regulations, and claim the regulations create a costly and time-consuming approval process that discourages healthcare providers from expanding services in Virginia. 

4. Those in favor of the certificate-of-need law say the regulations protect consumers and guard against redundancy in services. John F. Duval, chief executive officer at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond, believes, “the precipitous deregulation of the system” is risky.

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