§ 9431 - Policy and purpose
§ 9431. Policy and purpose
(a) It is declared to be the public policy of this state that the general welfare and protection of the lives, health and property of the people of this state require that all new health care projects be offered or developed in a manner which avoids unnecessary duplication and contains or reduces increases in the cost of delivering services, while at the same time maintaining and improving the quality of and access to health care services, and promoting rational allocation of health care resources in the state; and that the need, cost, type, level, quality, and feasibility of providing any new health care project be subject to review and assessment prior to any offering or development.
(b) In order to carry out the policy goals of this subchapter, the department shall adopt by rule by October 1, 2005 certificate of need procedural guidelines to assist in its decision-making. The guidelines shall be consistent with the state health plan and the health resource allocation plan. (Added 1979, No. 65, § 1; 1997, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. April 29, 1998; amended 2003, No. 53, § 8.)