H.C.R. No. 26 Summary

• Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the necessity of Hawaii's Certificate of Need (CON) process under Chapter 323D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires state approval for health care facility construction, expansion, and major capital expenditures.

• Directs the study to examine the CON program's role, whether certain facilities or services should be exempted, and modifications implemented in other states that could benefit Hawaii.

• Addresses criticisms of Hawaii's CON program including barriers to market competition, restrictions on innovation, inconsistent administration, and failure to control health care costs.

• Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2022 Regular Session convening.

• Mandates transmittal of certified copies to the Director of Health, Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency, and Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.