Frontier Institute Statement In Support Of HB 231

Repealing the Certificate of Need program could help reduce costs and boost much needed hospital capacity.

HELENA (Feb 2, 2021) – Today the Frontier Institute offered support for HB 231, a bill which repeals Montana’s Certificate of Need requirements for home health providers, ambulatory surgical centers and others.

HB 231, proposed by Representative Matt Regier of Kalispell, follows Frontier Institute’s recommendations for lawmakers to repeal Montana’s Certificate of Need (CON) program. Under the CON program, the government gets to determine if a new health care business is “needed”, a process that has been shown to limit healthcare competition which could give Montanans more choices and lower costs.

“Montana’s Certificate of Need program has been a disaster during the pandemic – driving prices higher, limiting access and even costing lives,” said Kendall Cotton, President and CEO of the Frontier Institute. “Repealing this harmful program could help reduce costs and boost much needed hospital capacity.”