Certificate-of-Need programs were intended to limit the supply of health care services within a state. Proponents claim that the limits were necessary to, among other things, control costs and increase the amount of charity care being provided. However, 40 years of evidence has demonstrated that these programs do not achieve their intended goals, but rather decrease the supply and availability of health care services by limiting entry and competition. For policymakers in Florida, this situation presents an opportunity to reverse course and open the market for greater entry, more competition, and ultimately more options for those seeking care.
