Georgia Relaxes Certificate-Of-Need Regulations For Inpatient Psych & Substance Abuse Treatment In Rural Hospitals

Starting July 1, 2024, Georgia will relax its certificate of need (CON) regulations, which will allow some types of health care facilities to obtain exemptions and open without a CON. CON is regulated by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH). The following facility types are eligible for CON exemptions: new general acute care hospitals in Georgia counties with less than 50,000 residents if the hospital operator agrees to meet certain indigent and charity care standards, joins the statewide trauma system, and offers a full-time emergency room; provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and behavioral health services; participates . . .