Most states restrict the number of hospitals in a given geographic area under "Certificate of Need" (CON) laws. These laws require any new hospital facility to provide evidence that there is a demand for its facility that is not currently being met by the existing healthcare facilities in that geographic market.

Identify the market inefficiency that these CON laws are trying to fix.

How does restricting the number of hospitals correct this inefficiency? Explain briefly.

The answer is provided below

Explanation:

The certificate of need, is a legal document in the United States that is required in many states and federal jurisdictions before proposed expansion, acquisitions, or the creations of healthcare facilities will be allowed.

a. The market inefficiencies which will be eliminated by the certificate of needs laws are that:

The absence of certificate of needs laws will have resulted in an unregulated market competition among the hospitals. This competition could result into medical providers over-investing in medical equipments and facilities. This will lead to an increase in the demand for the equipments which in turn, leads to rise in the equipments costs and the burden caused by the rise in price is shifted to the patients in form of high prices which could lead to exploitation.

b. Restricting the number of hospitals can correct this inefficiency because the laws will help reduce competition among the hospitals which will help reduce demand for healthcare equipments.

This will help in pushing the market toward equilibrium over time whereby healthcare delivery are more affordable to people.

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