Certificate of Need (CON)
The CON Program functions by requiring review and approval of certain types of proposed health care facility and service projects by the Maryland Health Care Commission. In this page, learn about how the CON program is applied in Maryland and the types of projects that require CON.
About Maryland’s CON Program
The Maryland Certificate of Need (CON) program is intended to ensure that new health care facilities and services are developed in Maryland only as needed and that, if determined to be needed, that they are:
- The most cost-effective approach to meeting identified needs;
- Of high quality
- Geographically and financially accessible;
- Financially viable; and
- Will not have a significant negative impact on the cost, quality, or viability of other health care facilities and services.
Approved projects are awarded a Certificate of Need, authorizing the project applicants to implement the approved project within the approved spending level and on a timely basis. The policy objectives and standards established by the Commission in the State Health Plan provide the basis for review of proposed projects.
Application Forms
CON application requirements vary according to facility type. Find the appropriate application you need here.
Projects that Require a CON
With certain exceptions, a Certificate of Need is required to:
- Build, develop, or establish a new health care facility;
- Move an existing health care facility to another site;
- Change the bed capacity of a health care facility;
- Change the type or scope of any health care service offered by a health care facility; or
- Make a health care facility capital expenditure that exceeds a threshold established in Maryland statute.
CON Review Criteria
Maryland law requires that the Commission consider six criteria in its review of CON applications: