AFP-GA Applauds Georgia Legislature on Certificate of Need Reforms

Mar 21, 2024 by AFP

Atlanta, Georgia—Today, the Georgia Senate and Georgia House of Representatives voted to make important reforms to the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws. The reforms will greatly expand access to key medical services including newly expanded statewide access to birthing centers as well as increasing the number of hospitals in rural areas.

Over the past year, Americans for Prosperity-Georgia (AFP-GA) urged lawmakers to reform the law, as it created unnecessary barriers to medical care.

After the vote, AFP-GA State Director Tony West issued the following statement:

“This is the most significant reform of certificate of need in years. It is a significant first step in the path to one day fully eliminating CON. We look forward to the positive health care developments in Georgia once these reforms are acted upon by healthcare providers across the state.

“We want to thank the members involved in these deliberations that recognized the dire need for reform specifically for freestanding birth centers, like the problems experienced by Katie Chubb and the Augusta Birth Center.”

Background

AFP-GA urged the Senate to amend the bill as introduced to include further CON reforms. Included in the Senate bill are provisions that no longer require Certificate of Need for new hospitals in rural counties, new substance abuse and psychiatric facilities, and hospitals that had previously closed and are attempting to reopen. Last November, the Senate Study Committee on Certificate of Need Reform recommended a full repeal of Georgia’s Certificate of Need laws.

Since last year, Katie Chubb has been an outspoken advocate for repealing Certificate of Need in Georgia. In August, she spoke at a press conference in Augusta highlighting how CON has harmed her ability to open a birthing center. In September, AFP-GA celebrated Chubb at the inaugural Pathway to Prosperity Summit for her efforts and making a difference in her community. AFP-GA recently produced a short testimonial video highlighting Chubb’s story.

In case you missed it, Tony West recently published an op-ed in the Albany Herald highlighting Chubb’s story and how CON laws have been detrimental to Georgians.