Pontiac Times

State Rep. John Reilly (R-Oakland Township) has put forth a 28-bill piece of legislation designed to improve health care access in Michigan.

Reilly's efforts seek to repeal Michigan’s Certificate of Need (CON) requirement, which in essence requires hospitals to get permission to grow or expand from the government. Reilly introduced House Bills 5510-5537 in February and they were referred to the Committee on Health Policy the same month, but as of April 21, no further action had been taken on the bills.

The CON requirements are in place alongside basic licensing and training requirements for medical professionals. Those in favor of the current standards feels that expansion and market entry should have restrictions and that will allow a reduction in overinvestment in facilities and equipment, a press release from Reilly's office states..

Reilly stands in opposition to the CON requirements.

“All this really does is limit competition," Reilly said in a release. "It makes no more sense than the state limiting the number of gas stations in a given area. When people have freedom and choice, costs go down and quality goes up. The Certificate of Need scheme ultimately benefits the hospital industry at the expense of the sick.”