The Senate Education and Health Committee’s subcommittee on certificate of public need (COPN) met this week and heard testimony in support and opposition to the House-passed bills HB193 and HB350.  Bill patrons Del. John O’Bannon (R-Henrico) and Del. Kathy Byron (R-Campbell) provided detailed reviews of their legislation for the senators. Secretary of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel Jr., MD also addressed the subcommittee.

In an update from last week, the committee membership has changed with Sen. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake) replacing Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson) on the panel. Other committee members include Chairman Sen. Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg), Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax), Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Sen. George Barker (D-Fairfax), Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico), Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield), and Sen. David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke).

Sen. Newman has tentatively called for a second subcommittee meeting the week of Feb. 29 and intends to bring the bills before the full committee later in the week. He has encouraged stakeholders interested in the bills to discuss and attempt to work through their differences over the legislation. Sen. Newman also repeated his interest in identifying potential additional funding streams for hospitals to address the challenges they face related to uncompensated care.