Legislators held a press conference on January 20 on the certificate of public need reform (COPN) bills.  Del. John O’Bannon (R-Henrico), who has introduced COPN legislation, emphasized that the General Assembly intended to reform, not repeal, the COPN process.  He specifically cited the proposed plans to leave intact the COPN process for nursing facilities, open heart surgery and transplant services as evidence of the intent not to repeal the process.

Del. Bobby Orrock (R-Caroline), Chairman of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee to which the COPN bills have been referred for consideration, has signaled that all of the House COPN-related bills will be heard by the Committee’s subcommittee #3.  That subcommittee is chaired by Del. Dickie Bell (R-Staunton); other subcommittee members include Del. Orrock, Del. O’Bannon, Del. Scott Garrett (R-Lynchburg) and Del. Matthew James (D-Portsmouth).  Del. Orrock announced at Thursday’s Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee meeting that the subcommittee will be meeting January 27 in the evening to hear all COPN bills.

Senate Education and Health Committee Chairman Sen. Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg) has announced he will form a special subcommittee to review the COPN bills before his committee.