The consultant shall develop a certificate of need manual that includes application guidelines to process and review each application for a new health care facility. In addition to the standards and guidelines included in this section, the application guidelines included in the certificate of need manual shall include, at a minimum, the procedures listed in the Perry County Certificate of Need Application Review Guidelines.
(A) Standards for review. To the extent available, the following factors shall be considered when determining the approval or disapproval of an application for a new health care facility:
(1) The impact of the new health care facility on the county residents’ ability to access new and high quality health care services;
(2) The current availability of alternative, less costly or more effective means to satisfy the goals of the new health care facility;
(3) The immediate and long-term financial feasibility of the new health care facility;
(4) The impact of the new health care facility on health care costs and charges for other health care facilities in the county;
(5) The fiscal impact on other health care facilities in the county;
(6) The availability of resources for the new health care facility, including management and personnel;
(7) The new health care facility’s economic impact in the county, including the creation of new jobs;
(8) The capacity of the health care facilities currently located in the county to improve the quality of health care services and to respond to customer preferences;
(9) The effect of competition on the efficient use of health care resources and providing quality health care; and
(10) The contribution of the new health care facility in serving the county’s medically underserved population, including low income persons, minorities, the disabled and the elderly.
(B) Administrative fee. Per I.C. 36-1-3-8(a)(5), the Commissioners may establish reasonable fees to defray the administrative costs associated with the certificate of need program. These costs shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) A reasonable fee to be paid by certificate of need applicants to provide for the costs of processing and reviewing applications for certificate of need; and
(2) A reasonable fee to be annually assessed of existing health care facilities if additional financial support for the program or the program’s enforcement is warranted.
(C) Open door. The Commissioners believe that the public has a right to participate in the review of all pending applications. The Commissioners, with the assistance of the consultant, shall establish procedures that allow the public and interested parties, including parties that may be adversely affected, to testify at a public hearing in support of or opposition to a pending application. The public hearing shall take place prior to the consultant’s recommendation to approve or deny the application.
(D) Access to public records. The Commissioners believe that the public has a right to access public records. Therefore, the CON application process shall comply with the requirements of I.C. 5-14-3 et seq. regarding the same.
(Ord. O-C-06-1, passed - -)