A Georgia Senate study committee has recommended that state lawmakers repeal the certificate of need (CON) mandate.
Georgia law requires applicants to provide proof of need in a given area before beginning construction of a new medical facility.
The senate study committee concluded that the now decades-old law prevents health care delivery, especially for places like rural Georgia.
Those who support repealing CON laws cite that it will foster competition among healthcare providers to lower prices. Those who support CON laws caution that repealing the mandate could impact other hospitals' revenue and ability to serve certain patients, like those on Medicaid.
If the law is repealed, Georgia would join 11 other states, such as Texas, California, Florida, and South Carolina.
