Impact of Certificate of Need Laws During the Pandemic

States with certificate of need laws faced significant challenges during the pandemic, notably with hospital bed shortages. Research revealed that hospitals in these states were 27% more likely to run out of beds, even with emergency waivers allowing for additional bed capacity. The longstanding restrictions on expanding hospital facilities created a rigidity that hindered quick adaptation in response to the crisis. Additionally, higher COVID-19 mortality rates were noted in states with these laws, underscoring the detrimental effects of such regulatory frameworks during emergency situations.