Bill > S0020

This bill amends Vermont's Certificate of Need (CON) law by significantly increasing the monetary thresholds that trigger the requirement for healthcare facilities to obtain a certificate of need from the state. Specifically, the bill raises the capital expenditure threshold from $1,500,000 to $10,000,000 for non-hospital facilities, and from $3,000,000 to $10,000,000 for hospitals. Similarly, the thresholds for equipment purchases and new service offerings are increased from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000, and the operating expense threshold for new services is raised from $500,000 to $10,000,000. The bill also increases the project cost threshold that requires a conceptual development phase certificate of need from $30,000,000 to $50,000,000, and reduces the preparatory expenditure limit to $10,000,000 for both hospital and non-hospital facilities. Additionally, the bill adds an exemption for healthcare services and facilities that are the result of a contract awarded by the State of Vermont, meaning these projects would not require a certificate of need. The changes are intended to modernize the CON process by adjusting monetary limits to reflect current healthcare costs and reduce regulatory burden. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.