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Certificate Of Need Program Under Scrutiny

WFSU | By Blaise Gainey
Published March 14, 2019 at 5:39 PM EDT
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
alyssa BLACK
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Credit alyssa BLACK / Flickr
/
The Florida Channel

Lawmakers want to get rid of a process that determines where facilities like hospitals and nursing homes can be built and what services can be offered. That process is called certificate of need. It was created to keep health care costs low. But lawmakers believe it no longer works.

"I do believe what we’ve seen with CON with hospitals particularly has not fulfilled its purpose and it’s time for this regulation to go," said Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Fort Myers.)

If the bill is passed hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices will be able to open, expand, and provide new services without seeking authorization from the state. Nursing homes and hospices are pushing for an exemption.

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Blaise Gainey
Blaise Gainey is a Multimedia Reporter for WFSU News. Blaise hails from Windermere, Florida. He graduated from The School of Journalism at the Florida A&M University. He formerly worked for The Florida Channel, WTXL-TV, and before graduating interned with WFSU News. He is excited to return to the newsroom. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, Netflix, outdoor activities and anything involving his daughter.
See stories by Blaise Gainey