HB370 Summary

• Increases certificate of need application fees: standard rate raised to 1% of estimated project cost (max $12,000), with reduced rates for providers serving 50%+ Medicaid patients (max $8,000) and rural hospitals with 30%+ Medicaid/Medicare patients (max $6,000).

• Imposes temporary surcharge of $2,000 per certificate of need application and $300 per reviewability determination to fund development of an online filing system by January 1, 2014, with surcharge auto-terminating nine months after system implementation.

• Modifies equipment replacement exemption determination fee from 10% to 20% of the standard application fee, and reduces rural hospital fees to 25% of non-rural hospital fees.

• Changes appeals process so aggrieved parties appeal directly to the Court of Civil Appeals rather than circuit court, with appeals filed within 21 days and following Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure.

• Updates review procedures to allow automatic extension of the 90-day project review period without applicant consent when needed to accommodate administrative law judge proceedings or issuance of recommended orders.