Across the country, 35 states and the District of Columbia still require health care providers to obtain a government “Certificate of Need” (CON) before building new facilities, adding new services, or expanding access for patients. While these laws were originally designed to prevent unnecessary medical spending, the data tell a different story: CON programs often restrict supply, raise costs, and limit patients’ ability to access timely, high-quality care.

Our latest Capitol Leaders resource breaks down what CON laws do, how they impacted states during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what forward-leaning reforms are gaining momentum across the nation.

CL CON Reform One-Pager