CON attorneys play an important role in guiding clients through complex state regulatory schemes. To avoid regulatory pitfalls, it is also important that CON attorneys are knowledgeable in health laws and healthcare regulations.

In 1977, District of Columbia implemented Certificate of Need (CON) laws to control cost and accessibility of healthcare in DC. State Health and Planning Development Agency of the DC government is in charge of administration, examination and grant of CON requests. A Certificate of Need allows health care providers to establish new facilities or services, make certain capital expenditures, or take certain other actions under the DC CON rules and regulations.