Certificate of Need

What is Certificate of Need?

In an effort to control the rapidly escalating costs of health care through planning and regulation, most states, including Oregon, have Certificate of Need ("CN") programs. As the name implies, the purpose of these programs is to evaluate whether a proposed service or facility is actually needed. They are designed to discourage unnecessary investment in unneeded facilities and services. Oregon’s CN program was instituted 1971 and arose out of the legislature's desire to achieve reasonable access to quality health care at a reasonable cost

What is subject to CN review in Oregon

ORS 442.315(1) directs that: "Any new hospital or new skilled nursing or intermediate care service or facility not excluded pursuant to ORS 441.065 shall obtain a certificate of need from the Health Services prior to an offering or development." ORS 441.065 addresses the exemption of certain religious institutions. For a definition of the terms "new hospital" and "new skilled nursing or intermediate care service or facility" see ORS 442.015. Division 550 of the CN administrative rules explains in detail what types of projects are subject to CN review.

Recent Actions

Columbia Health District CN Application (CN#658a)

Press Release (pdf) 

October 22, 2009 Proposed Order (pdf) 

CN Update (Applications under review and decisions)

February 2010 (pdf) 

January 2010 (pdf)

December 2009 (pdf) 

November 2009 (pdf) 

October 2009 (pdf)

September 2009 (pdf)

August 2009 (pdf)

June 2009 (pdf)

March 2009 (pdf)

February 2009 (pdf)

January 2009 (pdf)

ARCHIVE (pdf) 

For more information contact:
Jana Fussell

DHS- Public Health

800 NE Oregon Street

Portland, OR 97232

(971) 673-1108

jana.fussell@state.or.us