Senate eases CON rules for cancer care, aiming to expand rural access

Senator Cousert urged colleagues to support SB 367, a measure to exempt health-care facilities dedicated primarily to cancer care from certain certificate-of-need (CON) requirements so that PET scanners, linear accelerators and other specialized equipment can be added more quickly in underserved areas. He recounted committee testimony that rural patients now travel long distances and wait months for scans and argued expanding local capacity would save lives.

Floor debate included emotional appeals from several senators who spoke about family members and constituents affected by cancer. Supporters noted the bill would still require compliance with other state and federal rules and that many providers that testified favored expanded access. Opponents cautioned about protecting existing rural hospitals and potential disruptions to payer mixes; the sponsor accepted an amendment carving out ten named rural community hospitals from the exemption as a compromise.

The Senate adopted Amendment 1 and the committee substitute as amended, then passed the bill (yeas 32, nays 17). Supporters said the bill removes red tape that prevents timely acquisition of expensive diagnostic and treatment equipment; opponents emphasized ensuring indigent-care commitments and fiscal viability of acute-care hospitals.