June 11th, 2008

The House Health & Human Services Committee will meet today to consider a bill that would bring back Pennsylvania’s Certificate of Need law, which hasn’t been in effect since 1996.

The bill would require healthcare facilities to seek approval from the state before making major healthcare equipment purchases or expansions.

According to its sponsor, Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D-Luzerne), the purpose of the bill is to hold down healthcare costs by stopping the “technological arms race” that occurs when healthcare facilities try to out-do eachother with unnecessary expensive medical equipment and surgical facilities.

The bill would create local review committees to review hospitals’ applications, and creates standards for the approval process.