“We’re certainly open to thinking about ways to streamline the process, but we don’t want to give short shrift to the information we need to make a good decision,” Gifford said in an interview. The office had vacancies in more than half of its CON positions during the height of the pandemic and immediately after but has since filled many of the jobs and added new positions. There has been a “steep decline” in the timelines in recent years as the agency increased staffing and worked through a backlog of applications brought on by COVID, she said.Īn analysis OHS conducted of its own timelines shows a 60% decline in the median number of days to process an application between 20. But, especially for complex applications, it can take time to conduct a thorough review. Gifford acknowledged the timelines are long and said the agency is ready to work with legislators to improve them. We need more capability to serve the patients.” “It takes too long to get a certificate of need, and I think it’s an issue that is widely accepted,” said Jim Iacobellis, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs for the Connecticut Hospital Association. If there is a demand for additional services to treat substance abuse or mental health issues, for example, they argue approvals should be swift. Health officials have raised concerns about extended timelines impacting patient care. Applications to acquire new equipment, such as a CT or MRI scanner, took a median of 251 days. In comparison, terminating a service took a median of 211 days. The CT Mirror’s analysis found that applications for the establishment of a new facility or service take the longest, with a median of 378 days from the time a provider submits an application to the day the agency issues its decision. The median number of days from application submission to decision was 234, or roughly seven and a half months. In that time, the state has ruled on 115 applications in total. The Connecticut Mirror compiled and analyzed all CON applications that resulted in a decision since 2018, excluding any that were withdrawn or still in review. A handful operate programs that are similar without officially being designated as certificate of need laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. ![]() Today, 35 states and the District of Columbia run certificate of need initiatives, with conditions varying broadly by state. ![]() Proponents of the program say it protects access to services, ensures continuity of care, prevents expensive duplication and gives residents a voice in their care options.Ĭonnecticut implemented its CON in 1973, becoming one of 15 states at the time to impose this type of oversight. In between, OHS reviews the application to ensure it’s complete and may hold a public hearing to give residents the opportunity to comment. ![]() The process works like this: Health care providers submit an application, and the agency eventually issues a final decision about whether the proposal can move forward. The certificate of need is a regulatory program that requires providers to obtain state approval before making substantial changes in the health care sector, such as mergers, large purchases of equipment or facilities, or shuttering services. Photo by Brad Horrigan | How the certificate of need process works in CT Brad Horrigan / Hartford CourantIn this file photo, Deidre Gifford, head of the state’s Office of Health Strategy speaks at a press conference in 2020.
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