151 Termination of Certificate of Need Program

Termination of Certificate of Need Program

[27 Pa.B. 621]

   On December 18, 1996, those provisions of the Health Care Facilities Act relevant to the Certificate of Need (CON) program terminated. (35 P. S. § 448.904(a)). On December 21, 1996, the Department of Health (Department) published notice that it would undertake a review of those clinically related health services covered under the CON program. (26 Pa.B. 6029).

   The Department has commenced this review. Work groups have been established to review the relevant chapters of the State Health Services Plan and to determine if any criteria in these chapters discussing quality assurance and patient safety should be added to existing regulations of the Department regarding licensure of health care facilities.

   Work group recommendations concerning six of these health care services will be presented to the Secretary of Health by February 5, 1997. These six services are:  1) ambulatory surgical care, 2) cardiac catheterization, 3) long-term care, 4) neonatal care, 5) open heart surgery, and 6) vital organ transplantation. Those individuals who wish to obtain a copy of these recommendations should contact James T. Steele at [phone].

   The Department will hold a public meeting on these recommendations on February 11, 1997, at the Pennsylvania State Museum, Main Auditorium, Third and North Streets, Harrisburg, PA, commencing at 10 a.m. Any person who wishes to present testimony at this meeting should contact Robin Bowman at [phone] on or before February 10, 1997. Written comments will be received by the Department until close of business on February 14, 1997, and should be sent to James T. Steele, Department of Health, Room 806 Health and Welfare Building, P. O. Box 90, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Persons with a disability may submit comments in alternative formats, such as by audio tape or braille.

   For additional information, or for persons with a disability who desire to attend the meetings and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to do so, contact Robin Bowman at [phone]. TDD:  [phone] or Network/TDD:  (8) [phone].

   Recommendations regarding the remaining services will be made public at a later date.

DANIEL F. HOFFMANN, FACHE,   
Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-151. Filed for public inspection January 31, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]