How CON Publication Works
A step-by-step guide to the Certificate of Need legal publication process — from initial submission to published record and proof of publication.
Start Your Notice →What Is a Certificate of Need?
A Certificate of Need (CON) is a state-required legal authorization for certain healthcare facility changes. Before a hospital can add beds, a nursing home can open, or a surgery center can expand its services, the organization typically must apply for and receive a CON from the state health agency.
The purpose of CON laws is to prevent overbuilding of healthcare facilities and ensure that new services reflect genuine community need rather than competitive positioning alone.
Most states with active CON laws require that applications be publicly announced through a notice published in a qualifying newspaper — giving the community and existing healthcare providers the opportunity to comment, support, or object before the state makes its decision.
Who Typically Needs CON?
- Hospitals adding beds or services
- Nursing home and long-term care facilities
- Ambulatory surgical centers expanding
- Hospice care providers opening new facilities
- Memory care and psychiatric facilities
- Healthcare developers building new facilities
The Publication Process — Step by Step
From initial submission to published record and affidavit of publication. In this prototype, all payments and approvals are simulated.
Select State & Notice Type
Choose your state (South Carolina is currently open) and select the type of notice you need to publish — CON application, amendment, withdrawal, or other notice type required under your state's regulations.
- State selection
- Notice type
- Number of publication runs required
Organization & Contact Information
Provide your organization's legal name, type, and primary contact details. This information appears in your submission record and is used for all correspondence.
- Organization legal name
- Organization type
- Primary contact name
- Title, email, phone
- Mailing address
Project Details
Describe your project — the facility, its location, the county and ZIP code, what type of service or beds are proposed, and your requested publication date.
- Project name/description
- Facility name and address
- County & ZIP
- Service/bed type
- Requested publication date
Notice Text
Enter or paste your draft CON notice text. A sample template is provided for reference — labeled clearly as a sample and not legal advice. You can also upload a Word or PDF draft. Character count is shown as you type.
Review & Submit
Review all entered information before submitting. Any missing or flagged fields are highlighted. You'll see a summary of the proposed publication schedule and a proposed fee estimate. A prototype acknowledgment checkbox is required before submission.
Internal Review
After you submit, your request enters the operations team's review queue. The team checks: completeness of your information, notice text against requirements, county/ZIP validity, and requested dates. Status updates keep you informed throughout.
Customer Approval & Quote
You'll receive a proposed publication schedule and fee quote. Log into your customer dashboard to review and approve. The payment step is simulated in this prototype — no real charges are made.
Publication & Evidence
Once all approvals are complete, the operations team schedules and publishes your notice. You'll receive a publication record — a link to the live notice in the public directory — and a downloadable affidavit of publication as proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Get Started?
South Carolina is open for CON notice submissions. Start your publication request today.
Start Your Notice →