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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84648</law_id><section_number>32.1-102.4</section_number><catch_line>Conditions of certificates; monitoring; revocation of certificates; civil penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>32.1-102.2</reference><reference>32.1-102.6:1</reference><reference>32.1-276.5</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Health Care Planning</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1.1">Medical Care Facilities Certificate of Public Need</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may, in accordance with regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, condition issuance of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> on compliance with a schedule for the <span class="dictionary">completion</span> of the proposed <span class="dictionary">project</span> and a maximum capital expenditure amount for the proposed <span class="dictionary">project</span>. The approved schedule and maximum capital expenditure for a proposed <span class="dictionary">project</span> shall be issued together with the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>. The approved schedule may not be extended and the maximum capital expenditure may not be exceeded without the approval of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> in accordance with the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall not approve an extension for a schedule for <span class="dictionary">completion</span> of any <span class="dictionary">project</span> or the exceeding of the maximum capital expenditure of any <span class="dictionary">project</span> unless such extension or excess complies with the limitations provided in the regulations promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Regulations" href="/32.1-102.2/">32.1-102.2</a>.
			The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall monitor each <span class="dictionary">project</span> to determine its progress and compliance with the approved schedule and with the maximum capital expenditure, and may revoke the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> for (i) lack of substantial and continuing progress toward <span class="dictionary">completion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">project</span> in accordance with the schedule or (ii) expenditures in excess of the approved maximum capital expenditure for the <span class="dictionary">project</span>.
			Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> willfully violating conditions imposed pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of up to $100 per violation per day until the date of <span class="dictionary">completion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">project</span> which shall be collected by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> and paid into the Literary Fund.
			For the purposes of this subsection, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">completion</span>&#x201D; means conclusion of construction activities necessary for the substantial performance of the <span class="dictionary">contract</span>. <a id="paragraph-303408" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-102.4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall, pursuant to the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, condition the approval of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> upon the agreement of the applicant to provide care to individuals who are eligible for benefits under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395 et seq.), Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1396 et seq.), and 10 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1071 et seq. In addition, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall condition the approval of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> upon the agreement of the applicant to (i) provide a specified level of <span class="dictionary">charity care</span> to <span class="dictionary">indigent</span> <span class="dictionary">persons</span> or accept patients requiring specialized care, (ii) facilitate the development and operation of primary and specialty medical care services in designated medically underserved areas of the applicant&#x2019;s service area, or (iii) all of the above. Except in the case of nursing homes, the value of <span class="dictionary">charity care</span> provided to individuals pursuant to this subsection shall be based on the provider reimbursement methodology utilized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for reimbursement under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1395 et seq.
			Every <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder shall develop a financial assistance policy that includes specific eligibility criteria and procedures for applying for <span class="dictionary">charity care</span>, which shall be provided to a patient at the time of admission or discharge or at the time services are provided, included with any billing statements sent to uninsured patients, posted conspicuously in public areas of the <span class="dictionary">medical care facility</span> for which the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> was issued and posted on a website maintained by the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder.
			The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder shall annually provide documentation to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> demonstrating that the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder has satisfied the conditions of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, including documentation of the amount of <span class="dictionary">charity care</span> provided to patients. If the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder is unable or fails to satisfy the conditions of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> may approve alternative methods to satisfy the conditions pursuant to a plan of compliance, which shall identify a timeframe within which the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder will satisfy the conditions of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, and identify how the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder will satisfy the conditions of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, which may include (a) making direct payments to an organization authorized under a <span class="dictionary">memorandum</span> of understanding with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> to receive contributions satisfying conditions of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, (b) making direct payments to a private nonprofit foundation that funds basic insurance coverage for <span class="dictionary">indigents</span> authorized under a <span class="dictionary">memorandum</span> of understanding with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> to receive contributions satisfying conditions of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, or (c) other documented efforts or initiatives to provide primary or specialized care to underserved populations. In cases in which the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder holds more than one <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> with conditions pursuant to this subsection, and the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder is unable to satisfy the conditions of one <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, such plan of compliance may provide for satisfaction of the conditions on that <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> by providing care at a reduced rate to <span class="dictionary">indigent</span> individuals in excess of the amount required by another <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> issued to the same holder, in an amount approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> provided such care is offered at the same facility. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall prohibit the satisfaction of conditions of more than one <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> among various affiliated facilities or <span class="dictionary">certificates</span> subject to a system-wide or all-inclusive <span class="dictionary">charity care</span> condition established by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. In determining whether the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder has met the conditions of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> pursuant to a plan of compliance, only such actions undertaken after issuance of the conditioned <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall be counted towards satisfaction of conditions.
			Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> refusing, failing, or neglecting to honor such agreement shall be subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of up to $100 per violation per day until the date of compliance which shall be collected by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> and paid into the Literary Fund. For the purpose of determining the amount of a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> imposed pursuant to this subsection, the date on which the <span class="dictionary">person</span> began providing services in accordance with the original <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall be the date from which the period of noncompliance shall be calculated. <a id="paragraph-303409" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-102.4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may, pursuant to the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, condition the approval of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> for any <span class="dictionary">project</span> to (i) establish a <span class="dictionary">medical care facility</span> pursuant to subdivision A 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2028) Medical care facilities and projects for which a certificate is required" href="/32.1-102.1_3/">32.1-102.1:3</a>; (ii) introduce a psychiatric service pursuant to subdivision B 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2028) Medical care facilities and projects for which a certificate is required" href="/32.1-102.1_3/">32.1-102.1:3</a>; or (iii) add psychiatric beds to an existing <span class="dictionary">medical care facility</span> described in subdivision A 1 or 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2028) Medical care facilities and projects for which a certificate is required" href="/32.1-102.1_3/">32.1-102.1:3</a> upon the agreement of the applicant to provide care to individuals who are the subject of an involuntary temporary detention under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Involuntary temporary detention; issuance and execution of order" href="/37.2-809/">37.2-809</a>. <a id="paragraph-303410" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-102.4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall (i) review every <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> of public need upon which conditions were imposed pursuant to subsection B at least once every three years to determine whether such conditions continue to be appropriate or should be revised and (ii) notify each <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder of his conclusions regarding (a) the appropriateness of conditions imposed on the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> and whether such conditions should be revised and (b) the process by which the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder may request amendments to conditions imposed on a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> in accordance with subsection E. <a id="paragraph-303411" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-102.4/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Pursuant to regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may accept requests for and approve amendments to conditions of existing <span class="dictionary">certificates</span> related to the provision of care at reduced rates or to patients requiring specialized care or related to the development and operation of primary medical care services in designated medically underserved areas of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder&#x2019;s service area. <a id="paragraph-303412" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-102.4/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> In determining whether conditions imposed on a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> of public need pursuant to subsection B are appropriate for the purposes of subsection D or should be amended in response to a request submitted pursuant to subsection E, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall consider any changes in the circumstances of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder resulting from changes in the financing or delivery of health care services, including changes to the Commonwealth&#x2019;s program of medical assistance services, and any other specific circumstances of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> holder. <a id="paragraph-303413" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-102.4/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1982, c. 388; 1991, c. 561; 1992, c. 682; 1993, cc. 668, 704; 1998, c. 794; 2009, cc. 175, 711, 796, 877; 2013, c. 460; 2017, cc. 768, 791; 2019, c. 839; 2020, c. 1271; 2025, c. 325.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
