2015 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 19a - Public Health and Well-Being
Chapter 368z - Office of Health Care Access
Section 19a-639 - (Formerly Sec. 19a-155). Certificate of need guidelines and principles. Application involving transfer of ownership of a hospital; denial; conditions on approval; hiring of post-transfer compliance reporter.

(a) In any deliberations involving a certificate of need application filed pursuant to section 19a-638, the office shall take into consideration and make written findings concerning each of the following guidelines and principles:

(1) Whether the proposed project is consistent with any applicable policies and standards adopted in regulations by the Department of Public Health;

(2) The relationship of the proposed project to the state-wide health care facilities and services plan;

(3) Whether there is a clear public need for the health care facility or services proposed by the applicant;

(4) Whether the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated how the proposal will impact the financial strength of the health care system in the state or that the proposal is financially feasible for the applicant;

(5) Whether the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated how the proposal will improve quality, accessibility and cost effectiveness of health care delivery in the region, including, but not limited to, provision of or any change in the access to services for Medicaid recipients and indigent persons;

(6) The applicant’s past and proposed provision of health care services to relevant patient populations and payer mix, including, but not limited to, access to services by Medicaid recipients and indigent persons;

(7) Whether the applicant has satisfactorily identified the population to be served by the proposed project and satisfactorily demonstrated that the identified population has a need for the proposed services;

(8) The utilization of existing health care facilities and health care services in the service area of the applicant;

(9) Whether the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposed project shall not result in an unnecessary duplication of existing or approved health care services or facilities;

(10) Whether an applicant, who has failed to provide or reduced access to services by Medicaid recipients or indigent persons, has demonstrated good cause for doing so, which shall not be demonstrated solely on the basis of differences in reimbursement rates between Medicaid and other health care payers;

(11) Whether the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposal will not negatively impact the diversity of health care providers and patient choice in the geographic region; and

(12) Whether the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that any consolidation resulting from the proposal will not adversely affect health care costs or accessibility to care.

(b) In deliberations as described in subsection (a) of this section, there shall be a presumption in favor of approving the certificate of need application for a transfer of ownership of a large group practice, as described in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 19a-638, when an offer was made in response to a request for proposal or similar voluntary offer for sale.

(c) The office, as it deems necessary, may revise or supplement the guidelines and principles through regulation prescribed in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) (1) For purposes of this subsection and subsection (e) of this section:

(A) “Affected community” means a municipality where a hospital is physically located or a municipality whose inhabitants are regularly served by a hospital;

(B) “Hospital” has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-490;

(C) “New hospital” means a hospital as it exists after the approval of an agreement pursuant to section 19a-486b or a certificate of need application for a transfer of ownership of a hospital;

(D) “Purchaser” means a person who is acquiring, or has acquired, any assets of a hospital through a transfer of ownership of a hospital;

(E) “Transacting party” means a purchaser and any person who is a party to a proposed agreement for transfer of ownership of a hospital;

(F) “Transfer” means to sell, transfer, lease, exchange, option, convey, give or otherwise dispose of or transfer control over, including, but not limited to, transfer by way of merger or joint venture not in the ordinary course of business; and

(G) “Transfer of ownership of a hospital” means a transfer that impacts or changes the governance or controlling body of a hospital, including, but not limited to, all affiliations, mergers or any sale or transfer of net assets of a hospital and for which a certificate of need application or a certificate of need determination letter is filed on or after December 1, 2015.

(2) In any deliberations involving a certificate of need application filed pursuant to section 19a-638 that involves the transfer of ownership of a hospital, the office shall, in addition to the guidelines and principles set forth in subsection (a) of this section and those prescribed through regulation pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, take into consideration and make written findings concerning each of the following guidelines and principles:

(A) Whether the applicant fairly considered alternative proposals or offers in light of the purpose of maintaining health care provider diversity and consumer choice in the health care market and access to affordable quality health care for the affected community; and

(B) Whether the plan submitted pursuant to section 19a-639a demonstrates, in a manner consistent with this chapter, how health care services will be provided by the new hospital for the first three years following the transfer of ownership of the hospital, including any consolidation, reduction, elimination or expansion of existing services or introduction of new services.

(3) The office shall deny any certificate of need application involving a transfer of ownership of a hospital unless the commissioner finds that the affected community will be assured of continued access to high quality and affordable health care after accounting for any proposed change impacting hospital staffing.

(4) The office may deny any certificate of need application involving a transfer of ownership of a hospital subject to a cost and market impact review pursuant to section 19a-639f if the commissioner finds that (A) the affected community will not be assured of continued access to high quality and affordable health care after accounting for any consolidation in the hospital and health care market that may lessen health care provider diversity, consumer choice and access to care, and (B) any likely increases in the prices for health care services or total health care spending in the state may negatively impact the affordability of care.

(5) The office may place any conditions on the approval of a certificate of need application involving a transfer of ownership of a hospital consistent with the provisions of this chapter. Before placing any such conditions, the office shall weigh the value of such conditions in promoting the purposes of this chapter against the individual and cumulative burden of such conditions on the transacting parties and the new hospital. For each condition imposed, the office shall include a concise statement of the legal and factual basis for such condition and the provision or provisions of this chapter that it is intended to promote. Each condition shall be reasonably tailored in time and scope. The transacting parties or the new hospital shall have the right to make a request to the office for an amendment to, or relief from, any condition based on changed circumstances, hardship or for other good cause.

(e) (1) If the certificate of need application (A) involves the transfer of ownership of a hospital, (B) the purchaser is a hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, whether located within or outside the state, that had net patient revenue for fiscal year 2013 in an amount greater than one billion five hundred million dollars or a hospital system, as defined in section 19a-486i, whether located within or outside the state, that had net patient revenue for fiscal year 2013 in an amount greater than one billion five hundred million dollars, or any person that is organized or operated for profit, and (C) such application is approved, the office shall hire an independent consultant to serve as a post-transfer compliance reporter for a period of three years after completion of the transfer of ownership of the hospital. Such reporter shall, at a minimum: (i) Meet with representatives of the purchaser, the new hospital and members of the affected community served by the new hospital not less than quarterly; and (ii) report to the office not less than quarterly concerning (I) efforts the purchaser and representatives of the new hospital have taken to comply with any conditions the office placed on the approval of the certificate of need application and plans for future compliance, and (II) community benefits and uncompensated care provided by the new hospital. The purchaser shall give the reporter access to its records and facilities for the purposes of carrying out the reporter’s duties. The purchaser shall hold a public hearing in the municipality in which the new hospital is located not less than annually during the reporting period to provide for public review and comment on the reporter’s reports and findings.

(2) If the reporter finds that the purchaser has breached a condition of the approval of the certificate of need application, the office may, in consultation with the purchaser, the reporter and any other interested parties it deems appropriate, implement a performance improvement plan designed to remedy the conditions identified by the reporter and continue the reporting period for up to one year following a determination by the office that such conditions have been resolved.

(3) The purchaser shall provide funds, in an amount determined by the office not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars annually, for the hiring of the post-transfer compliance reporter.

(f) Nothing in subsection (d) or (e) of this section shall apply to a transfer of ownership of a hospital in which either a certificate of need application is filed on or before December 1, 2015, or where a certificate of need determination letter is filed on or before December 1, 2015.

(P.A. 73-117, S. 14, 31; P.A. 77-192, S. 8, 13; P.A. 79-73; 79-98, S. 2, 4; P.A. 80-19, S. 1; 80-72, S. 1; 80-73, S. 2; 80-74; P.A. 81-159, S. 1, 3; 81-210; 81-441, S. 2; 81-465, S. 6, 9, 18; P.A. 82-415, S. 16, 18; P.A. 83-215, S. 2, 3; P.A. 85-89, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-192, S. 2, 3; 87-420, S. 12, 14; P.A. 89-72, S. 2, 3, 5; 89-371, S. 16; P.A. 91-48, S. 2, 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 11; P.A. 93-229, S. 4, 21; 93-262, S. 18, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 59, 95; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 49, 130; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 39, 47, 58; 95-338, S. 1, 3; P.A. 97-159; 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 98-150, S. 3, 17; P.A. 02-89, S. 35; P.A. 03-17, S. 2; P.A. 05-75, S. 3; 05-93, S. 2–4; 05-151, S. 4; P.A. 06-28, S. 2; 06-64, S. 7; 06-196, S. 243, 244; P.A. 07-149, S. 3, 4; 07-217, S. 83; P.A. 08-14, S. 4; P.A. 09-232, S. 93; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 10; P.A. 10-179, S. 88; P.A. 12-170, S. 1; P.A. 13-234, S. 144; P.A. 14-168, S. 7; P.A. 15-146, S. 28.)

History: P.A. 77-192 divided section into Subsecs., made provisions applicable to state health care facilities and institutions, replaced Comprehensive Health Planning Agency with Health Systems Agency and added provisions re 30-day extension period; P.A. 79-73 allowed commission to modify requests in Subsec. (b); P.A. 79-98 made provisions applicable to inpatient rehabilitation facilities affiliated with Easter Seal Society; P.A. 80-19 required adoption of regulations re expedited hearing process by January 1, 1981, in Subsec. (a); P.A. 80-72 raised applicable capital expenditure in Subsec. (a) from $100,000 to $150,000 and included requests relative to “purchase of land”; P.A. 80-73 deleted reference to commission’s option to “make a finding of recommendations” based on request and allowed waiver of 90-day advance submission by three-commissioner panel in Subsec. (a) and allowed three-commissioner panel to take action in Subsec. (b); P.A. 80-74 removed Subsec. indicators, deleted redundant provision re action within 90 days, deleted 30-day extension and required that request be submitted to appropriate health systems agency at least 30 days before submission to commission; P.A. 81-159 required commission to adopt regulations re waiver of a hearing for any part of a facility’s request for a capital expenditure, provided the facility and the commission agree to the waiver; P.A. 81-210 limited the conditions and restrictions which the commission on hospitals and health care may impose when approving or modifying a request for a capital expenditure to those that are within the control of the facility; P.A. 81-441 amended the commission on hospitals and health care certificate of need review process by exempting from review outpatient, i.e. “ambulatory” services provided by a health maintenance organization; P.A. 81-465 amended Subsec. (a) to exempt home health care and homemaker-home health care agencies from commission review relative to capital expenditures or the acquisition of major medical equipment and changed the threshold for review from expenditures over $150,000 to expenditures exceeding limits set by the secretary of health and human services, deleted provision allowing three-member panel to act on requests, and Subsec. (b) re coordination of activities between commission and health systems agencies was added editorially by the Revisors; P.A. 82-415 eliminated exception for ambulatory service programs by health maintenance organizations from provision requiring submission of a request for approval of expenditures; Sec. 19-73m transferred to Sec. 19a-155 in 1983; P.A. 83-215 exempted ambulatory services established and conducted by a health maintenance organization from certificate of need review, changed the threshold for review of capital expenditures from limits set by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to $600,000 and to $400,000 for the acquisition of major medical equipment, provided for a 15-day extension of the 90-day review period if additional information is requested by the commissioner or a motion to approve, modify or deny a request results in a tie vote and authorized the adoption of regulations to establish a schedule for the submission of similar requests; P.A. 85-89 amended Subsec. (a) to change the threshold for review of capital expenditures from $600,000 to $714,000; P.A. 87-192 substituted $1,000,000 for $714,000 expenditure cap, added the provision re 30-day extension of the review period upon the vote of the commission and deleted references to 90-day review period; P.A. 87-420 deleted all references to health systems agency; P.A. 89-72 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b) and amended Subsec. (c) to make commission’s powers under the Subsec. discretionary rather than mandatory; P.A. 89-371 added reference to Secs. 19a-167 to 19a-167g, inclusive, and to revenue caps; P.A. 91-48 amended Subsec. (a) to apply exception to outpatient rehabilitation facilities affiliated with Easter Seal Society and to give the commission 10 business days instead of 10 calendar days to review emergency requests under the certificate of need process and made technical changes; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 amended Subsec. (c) requiring the commission to adopt regulations providing for the submittal of applications for certificates in cycles; P.A. 93-229 amended Subsec. (a) re submission of letter of intent, waiver of letter if expenditure necessary to comply with fire, building or life safety code and exception to 90-day review period and amended Subsec. (c) to change “shall” to “may” re adoption of regulations, effective June 4, 1993; P.A. 93-262 removed homemaker-home health aide agencies and added nursing homes, homes for the aged, rest homes and certain facilities for mentally retarded persons to the list of facilities which do not have to submit a request for permission to make certain expenditures, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 and P.A. 93-435 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of public health and addiction services for commissioner and department of health services, effective July 1, 1993; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 removed obsolete language, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced references to Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Department of Public Health and to Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access or Commissioner of Health Care Access, deleted reference to a tie vote of the former commission, deleted reference to 1981 deadline for regulations and required the commissioner to notify the Commissioner of Social Services of impact on the medical assistance program, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-338 inserted new Subsec. (c) exempting certain community health centers and relettered former Subsec. accordingly, effective July 13, 1995; Sec. 19a-155 transferred to Sec. 19a-639 in 1997; P.A. 97-112 replaced “home for the aged” with “residential care home”; P.A. 97-159 added new Subsec. (d) re exemption for school-based health care centers and redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (e); P.A. 98-150 replaced specified exemptions with reference to sections containing exemptions, divided Subsec. (a) into two Subsecs. and relettered remaining sections accordingly, amended Subsec. (b) by adding “provider” to institution, added exception re one-time exemption, replaced reference to future budget adjustments with Subdivs. (1), (2) and language re exclusion during review process, amended Subsec. (c) by adding “or replace” to acquire, “linear accelerator” to imaging equipment, “donation” to leasing and adding language re determining capital cost or expenditure, added Subsec. (d)(2) re primary care or dental services, adding “proposed” to project and adding process for community health center exemption, amended Subsec. (f) by deleting obsolete authority to adopt regulations and made technical changes throughout, effective June 5, 1998; P.A. 02-89 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to Sec. 19a-639d with Sec. 19a-639c, reflecting repeal of Sec. 19a-639d by the same public act; P.A. 03-17 amended Subsec. (b) by dividing existing provisions into Subdivs. (1) and (2), by deleting provisions re mandatory public hearing, two weeks’ notice and place of hearing, by adding Subdiv. (3) providing for public hearings only under certain circumstances and by making conforming changes; P.A. 05-75 amended Subsec. (b) by making technical changes and adding provision in Subdiv. (3) establishing a 21 calendar day deadline for requesting a public hearing on a completed certificate of need application; P.A. 05-93 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. designators and eliminating, with certain exceptions, the $400,000 capital expenditure threshold for certificate of need review of proposals involving the purchase, lease or donation acceptance of various types of scanning equipment and linear accelerators, amended Subsec. (b)(3) by extending the public hearing requirement to certificate of need applications involving the purchase, lease or donation acceptance of various types of scanning equipment and linear accelerators, and amended Subsec. (c) by extending the certificate of need approval process to providers, rather than facilities, proposing to purchase, lease or accept donation of various types of scanning equipment and linear accelerators and by making conforming changes, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 05-151 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting former Subdiv. (2) re school-based health centers, redesignating existing Subdivs. (3) to (5) as new Subdivs. (2) to (4) and replacing “standard model” with “licensing standards” in redesignated Subdiv. (3); P.A. 06-28 amended Subsecs. (a) to (e), inclusive, by increasing the capital expenditure threshold and major medical equipment acquisition threshold for certificate of need review to $3,000,000, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 06-64 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by allowing waiver of letter of intent requirement when a capital expenditure is necessary to maintain continued access to health care services provided by a facility or institution, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (c), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-149 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (d); P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 08-14 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by substituting 7 days for 5 business days, substituting 14 days for 10 business days and making technical changes and amended Subsec. (b)(3)(D) by making a technical change, effective July 1, 2008; P.A. 09-232 amended Subsecs. (a)(3), (b)(3)(C) and (c)(2) by eliminating “cineangiography equipment”, effective July 1, 2009; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “or the commissioner’s designee” in Subdivs. (1) and (2) and by replacing “office” with “Department of Public Health” re regulations in Subdiv. (2), effective October 6, 2009; P.A. 10-179 replaced former Subsecs. (a) to (f) with new Subsecs. (a) and (b) re guidelines and principles considered by office when deliberating on certificate of need application; P.A. 12-170 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to office with reference to Department of Public Health in Subdiv. (1) and adding provision re demonstration that proposal is financially feasible in Subdiv. (4); P.A. 13-234 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subpara. (A) re change in access to services and Subpara. (B) re impact upon cost effectiveness of providing access to services in Subdiv. (5), adding provision re access to services in Subdiv. (6), and adding Subdiv. (10) re applicant who has failed to provide or reduced access to services; P.A. 14-168 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (11) re impact on diversity of health care providers and adding Subdiv. (12) re health care costs and accessibility to care, added new Subsec. (b) re presumption in deliberations, and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-146 amended Subsec. (a)(5) by deleting former Subpara. (B) re cost effectiveness impact, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “group practice” with “large group practice”, added Subsec. (d) re definitions and certificate of need application involving transfer of ownership of a hospital, added Subsec. (e) re post-transfer compliance reporter and added Subsec. (f) re applicability of provisions where application or certificate of need determination letter filed on or before December 1, 2015, effective July 1, 2015.