Part 1
Dr. William C. Padgett describes how an onerous state regulation is denying the elderly and frail in his community proper care that would enhance their comfort and quality of life. In this 2:30 minute video, Dr. Padgett discusses how North Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) Laws are the one thing standing in the way of a much-needed assisted living facility in Beaufort County.
Part 2
In the second and final part of this Civitas video interview with Dr. William C. Padgett regarding North Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws, Dr. Padgett discusses the multiple benefits an appropriate assisting living facility would bring to his community. These benefits are being denied, however, by the state’s CON laws. Dr. Padgett concludes by urging state lawmakers to form a study committee to seriously evaluate the negative impact CON laws have on the provision of appropriate facilities for North Carolina’s elderly and frail population.
I have owned,built and operated assisted living facilities for over 35 yrs.I don’t currently own any facilities that require CON’s.I was appointed to the Study Commission on Aging in 1988 and immediately began hearings across the state attempting to eliminate CON law.The nursing home lobby for one came out of the woodwork to stop my attempt which in the end got nowhere.Now it doesn’t really matter anymore because the current regulatory environment and with the courts handing the Disability Rights groups in NC rulings that will cripple assisted living with a smaller pool of consumers as well as much higher cost there will be fewer built by those who study the numbers and figure the profit will be to small to make investment.
It’s time to stop the state monopoly on health care. Private institutions must bow to bureaucrats who are in competition, providing the same services. A private enterprise in a free market can bear the responsibility of making their won fiscal decisions. And no one is hurt in the process but the entrepreneur. With CON, the taxpayer is hurt by limiting services and products. Since CON was initiated in the 1970’s unprecedented health care costs set new records. The main argument for CON was cost containment. Mission fail. Time to move on and return control to the private sector. State mental health facilities have such a bad record that the fed intervened in 2008-10. Yet the LME/MCO will not allow more facilities, in competition with their services. Wake up, folks.