Bill > S494

This bill modifies Certificate of Need (CON) laws in North Carolina by limiting their application to only small counties with populations under 100,000 that have at least one functioning hospital. The bill introduces a new category called "qualified ambulatory surgical facilities" that can opt out of existing Certificate of Need requirements, provided they meet specific criteria, including maintaining a single or multi-specialty surgical program and providing a minimum of 4% of their total revenue through self-pay and Medicaid services. The bill removes previous restrictions that limited such facilities to urban counties with populations over 125,000 and instead creates a more flexible licensing process that allows facilities to choose to opt out of CON regulations. Facilities wanting this status must obtain a special license, adhere to specific reporting requirements, and demonstrate commitment to providing charity care. The changes are designed to potentially increase healthcare access by reducing regulatory barriers for ambulatory surgical facilities, with most provisions set to take effect two years after the first directed payment is made under a new Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP), or by June 30, 2025, if no such payments are made.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S494