PHHCP Adopts CON Reform Report

The Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) adopted a report calling for several  reforms of the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) process. LeadingAge NY testified at the Dec. 6  PHHPC Planning Committee meeting in Albany on the report. 

  The report concludes that the CON process should be reformed, given major changes such as  Medicaid redesign and federal health reform. The report’s recommendations are organized into  four major areas: (1) advancing the federal triple aim (better health, better care outcomes and  lower cost) through regional health planning; (2) advancing the triple aim through CON and  licensure; (3) promoting improvements in quality and efficiency through governance; and (4)  incorporating quality and health into CON reviews; streamlining financial reviews and relaxing  the ban on revenue sharing. An additional recommendation was added to assess providers’  capability to respond to disasters.

LeadingAge NY expressed support for the overall effort, but raised concerns about character  and competence reviews and oversight of “passive parent” entities. Amended language on  passive parent oversight included in the final report partially addressed our concerns. As many of the report’s recommendations will necessitate regulatory changes, we will have additional  opportunities for input.

Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866