(The Center Square) – Former minority party leader Dan Blue of Wake County and Julie Mayfield of Buncombe County are on record as the lone Democrats in the North Carolina Senate favoring repeal of what critics say are burdens imposed by certificate of need laws.
Passage of the proposal in the Senate was 31-17 and along party lines otherwise. One Republican was excused, and all 29 others were in favor.
Repeal Certificate of Need Laws, known also as Senate Bill 370 with companion House Bill 455, went to the House of Representatives before lawmakers departed Raleigh for an Easter break last week. No sessions are scheduled this week, with resumption in both chambers next week.
Certificate of need laws are regulations requiring health care providers to show need before establishing a service or facility. They can be controversial among both stakeholders and impacted residents.
The laws touch but are not limited to the areas of protecting and investing in public health; quality of care; costs; competition; and the socioeconomics of populations served. A January report in Forbes using KFF data says North Carolina is the most expensive state in the country for health care, and lawmakers have used words like “antiquated” to describe regulations.
The legislation shifts to a market-driven approach, with elimination of Article 9 of Chapter 131E in the General Statutes. If enacted, the repeal would become effective Jan. 1.
