Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed a new measure into law that has scaled back the state’s certificate of need law, making it easier for providers to add new advanced imaging offerings. The law removes CON requirements related to MRI and PET, as well as other facilities such as freestanding emergency departments or ambulatory surgery centers. For-profit hospital giant HCA Healthcare supported the change, while the Tennessee Hospital Association opposed it, stating that the current CON law helps ensure hospitals can provide vital services to patients and communities.
Under the new law, providers in Tennessee no longer need a CON before adding a new PET scanner in counties with populations of fewer than 175,000. Instead, they must become accredited by the American College of Radiology within two years of being licensed. The law also removes CON requirements for initiating MRI services or increasing the number of scanners in the state. Providers will still need to notify the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission when initiating new services and specify whether they plan to image patients under 14. These changes will take effect on December 1, 2025.
The new law is expected to make it easier for providers to expand advanced imaging services in Tennessee, potentially increasing access for patients. The decision to scale back the CON law has sparked controversy within the state’s healthcare industry, with supporters and opponents voicing their opinions on the impact it will have on hospitals and patient care.
Source
Photo credit radiologybusiness.com
