“In Virginia there is a Certificate of Need program,” says Sandra W. Pearson, administrator of
Parham Surgery Center in Henrico, Virginia. “ASCs, among other providers, have to apply for permission to the Certificate of Public Need Program (COPN) Board for permission for expansion or replacement based on a threshold of a specific dollar amount. If the request is granted by the COPN Board, it is with a specific percentage of billed charges due in charity care or we have to write a check to the state of Virginia for the shortfall. The dollars can also be sent to Accent Now or other qualified charity care organizations. Access Now is run by the Medical Society of Virginia.”