The end of New Hampshire's Certificate of Need board marks "a new era in terms of healthcare," according to an article on the New Hampshire Business Review website.
The demise of the board raises the question: Will there be a boom in healthcare facility expansion, both in equipment and construction?
Gov. Maggie Hassan signed a bill sponsored by Sen. Jeb Bradley, that would keep some restrictions on the construction of new medical facilities, with the state Department of Health and Human Services, as opposed to the CON board, having the final word.
The bill is mainly focused on safety, not competition, though it does shield rural hospitals.