Limits the application fees paid under the certificate of need program within the department of health to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000

Plain-English Summary

Rhode Island has a "Certificate of Need" (CON) program, run by the state Department of Health, that requires hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers to get government approval before they can add major new medical equipment or expand their services. This approval process helps the state oversee how healthcare resources are distributed. Currently, organizations applying for this approval must pay a fee, but there is no clear cap on how high that fee can go.

This bill would set a firm limit — called a "cap" — on those application fees at $25,000. In other words, no matter how large or complex a healthcare project might be, an applicant would never have to pay more than $25,000 to apply for the required Certificate of Need approval from the Department of Health.

The bill primarily affects healthcare providers — such as hospitals, nursing homes, and medical facilities — that are looking to expand or add new services or equipment in Rhode Island. By capping the fee, the bill could make the approval process less costly for these organizations. It was recently introduced and referred to the House Finance Committee, where lawmakers will review it before deciding whether to move it forward.