Georgia Certificate of Need Laws
Georgia
Most Restrictive
Year Enacted
1979
Services Regulated
—
National Rank
41 of 51
Top Systems
- FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System
Market Concentration
7,453
Reform Status
States That Reformed
Key Case
FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc.. , U.S. Supreme Court, FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc.
Georgia's CON laws, enacted in 1979, regulate a broad range of healthcare services. This has led to highly concentrated markets, exemplified by the Albany area, where one system, Phoebe Putney, controls 86% of the market.
3 Services Behind the Gate
- ✓Hospitals
- ✓Nursing Homes / Long-Term Care
- ✓Home Health Agencies
The Permission Process
The statutory timeline for a review is 120 days, with the actual process taking about four months. A key feature of Georgia's process is the formal 'opposition meeting,' which allows incumbent systems a platform to officially contest applications from potential new competitors.
The Georgia Healthcare Cartel
Atlanta Hospital Market Share (Estimated)
Three large systems dominate the Atlanta metropolitan area, collectively controlling a significant majority of the market based on revenue.
FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc.
Decided February 2013 · U.S. Supreme Court
FTC v. Phoebe Putney: Full Analysis
Data sourced from the Georgia Department of Community Health, U.S. Supreme Court, Federal Trade Commission, and state financial disclosures.
Georgia (No Full Repeal)
Georgia (No Full Repeal)
States That Reformed
Data sourced from the Georgia Department of Community Health, U.S. Supreme Court, Federal Trade Commission, and state financial disclosures.
Last updated: April 2026