Center for Policy, Planning and Epidemiology Certificate of Need Program State Health Planning and Development Agency  Certificates of Need allow health care providers to establish new services, make certain capital expenditures, or take certain other actions as specified in DC Law 11-191, the Health Services Planning Program Reestablishment Act of 1996, and the Certificate of Need Regulations (Title 22, DC Municipal Regulations, Sec. 4000, et seq.). A project review is the process by which the District of Columbia State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) reviews applications for Certificates of Need. After a review of the need for the proposed service or facility, Certificates of Need are issued for a specified period, not to exceed three years. Unless a project is completed within the specified period, the project is reviewed annually for renewal of the Certificate. The renewal review is normally based on whether the holder of the Certificate has made substantial progress on the project or has adequate justification for a lack of progress. The Certificate holder's compliance with any conditions that may have been placed on the Certificate is assessed during renewal reviews. Application for Certificate of Need* Who Needs a Certificate of Need? How Is a Certificate of Need Obtained? Letter of Intent SHPDA Assistance Waiting Period Completeness Review Schedule of Reviews Beginning of Review Periods Length of the Review Period Staff Analysis Public Hearings During Review SHCC Project Review Committee Consideration Committee Action Closure of the Review Period Ex Parte Contacts The SHPDA Director's Consideration and Action Reconsideration of Decisions and Appeals Certificate of Need Renewal Changes in Approved Projects How Applications Are Judged: Criteria for Review Additional Information Application Fee This site provides additional information on the State Health Planning and Development Agency. * This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF reader or learn more about PDFs.