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.
*At the time of publication, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina were still in the review process.
