Court Opinion

ID: 9652842
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 17:33:24.504552+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:54.552877
License: Public Domain

*76DALIANIS, J.,
concurring specially. I concur in the majority opinion because I believe that the plain meaning of the applicable statutes compels the result reached. As the majority aptly holds, although under the plain language of RSA 151-C:5,11(b) (2005), certificate of need (CON) review is required when transferring even a part of an existing health care facility, Phase I of the Elliot Medical Center at Londonderry Project is not an existing health care facility as that term is defined in RSA 151-C:2, XV-a (2005). Thus, none of the transfers at issue trigger CON review. I regard Elliot Health System’s transfer of ownership of Phase I as a clever way to circumvent CON review. Although Elliot Health System knew that CON review would be required for this facility once it began to offer urgent care, nevertheless, before the facility offered urgent care, Elliot Health System arranged to sell it to the developer for this sale and lease-back deal to avoid CON review. While this kind of lease-back deal is allowed under the current statutory scheme, the legislature might wish to revisit RSA chapter 151-C (2005 & Supp. 2008) in light of this case.