50-State Scan of State Certificate-of-Need Programs

A certificate of need (CON) program is a state regulatory tool that controls the number of health care resources in an area. CON laws require a hospital or health system to demonstrate community need before establishing or expanding a health care facility or service.

State CON laws differ, but generally address:

• The types of health care facilities requiring CONs
• Activities that trigger CON review
• The agency or board that reviews applications
• The information considered during a CON review

This interactive map is based on a review of state statutes, administrative codes, websites, and other documents and was reviewed by nearly all states with CON programs.* To learn more, read the National Academy for State Health Policy’s blog, 50-State Scan Shows Diversity of State Certificate-of-Need Laws or visit the Center for Health System Costs .