Certificate-of-Need Laws Prevent Access to Lifesaving Medical Technology
2nd April 2013
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In large part, that’s because less than half of the population that should be getting screened isn’t getting screened.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Medical science has found a way to use CT scanners to do screenings non-invasively, negating the need to insert a colonoscope into the rectum and large intestine. But for regulatory hurdles, people could just go to a clinic, pay for a quick photo & analysis session and be on their way.
However, as of 2010, 13 states require medical institutions to get permission, in the form of a “certificate of need,” before purchasing new CT scanners. Other states require doctors to obtain a certificate of need before offering new medical procedures like virtual colonoscopies, which are still relatively cutting edge.
‘We’re from the government, and we’re here to help … just kidding.’