NH House Leaders Comment on Repealing Certificate of Need Law

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) today commented on the passage of House Bill 1617, which would repeal the state certificate of need law. The bill passed on a voice vote. 

House Speaker William O’Brien

“Increasing competition will reduce the cost of healthcare to individuals and businesses and improve care in the right way as opposed to how Washington intends to provide healthcare, which is to force ObamaCare on our citizens with individual mandates and stifled competition."

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“We value competitive approaches to better healthcare and by changing the certificate of need law we will take necessary steps toward bolstering such an atmosphere in our state. We have seen over many decades that not only does the certificate of need law not reduce cost but it also provides a significant barrier from innovative health care facilities. Limiting expansion, utilization and availability of medical services is ineffective at best and evidence shows that even worse it is counterproductive and drives up prices of healthcare costs. We hope the Senate shares these values and joins with us in passing this bill.”