On this page...
Notice of Program Change
- House File 2635
- Notice of Changes to Certificate of Need Process (194.41 KB) .pdf
- Bed Demand Estimates (280.99 KB) .pdf
- How to Use Bed Need Estimates - General (278.76 KB) .pdf
Certificate of Need (CON) Overview
Certificate of Need (CON) is a process that requires HHS to review and approve CON applications prior to offering or developing a new or changed health service. New or changed health services requiring a CON and exclusions to CON are outlined in Iowa Code sections 135.61 and 135.62. Potential applicants include hospitals, nursing facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, or anyone purchasing medical equipment costing more than $1.5 million.
Back to topLaws & Rules
Back to topPublic Hearings
- Starting July 1, 2026 Public hearings are no longer required as part of the CON process. If you would like to submit letters of support or opposition for a project being reviewed by the CON program please submit your letters within the posted timeframe for that project to [email protected]
Applications on File
New Applications
Applicant: On with Life
Project: Bed Addition and facility construction
Received: August 10, 2026
City: Polk City| County: Polk
Estimated Cost: $9,300,000
Affected parties should submit letters of support or opposition by August 24, 2026 to [email protected]
Applicant: UnityPoint Health- Trinity Muscatine
Project: Acquisition of a da Vinci 5 Robot
Received: July 22, 2026
City: Muscatine | County: Muscatine
Estimated Cost: $3,027,346
Applicant: Henry County Health Center
Project: Acquisition of a da Vinci 5 Robot
Received: July 22, 2026
City: Mount Pleasant | County: Henry
Estimated Cost: $4,112,348
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will post projects on its website that are scheduled to expire 30 days prior to the expiration date of their certificate of need (CON) approval. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 10A.721, any affected person has the right to submit information which may be relevant to the question of granting an extension. This information may be submitted to the Certificate of Need mailbox at [email protected]. Such comments must be received prior to the expiration date to be considered.
- Applicant: Spencer Hospital
Project: Acquisition of in-house PET Scanner
Received: June 30, 2026
City: Spencer | County: Clay
Decision Issued: July 22, 2026 - Applicant: Orthopedic Ambulatory Surgical Center
Project: Establish an orthopedic ambulatory surgery center
Received: June 24, 2026
City: Grimes | County: Polk
Decision Issued: July 20, 2026 - Applicant: Van Buren County Hospital
Project: Acquisition of in-house MRI and suite remodel
Received: June 12, 2026
City: Keosauqua | County: Van Buren
Decision Issued: July 20, 2026 - Applicant: Stewart Memorial Clinic
Project: Build a new rural health clinic
Received: May 22, 2026
City: Rockwell City | County: Calhoun
Decision Issued: June 24, 2026 - Applicant: Palo Alto
Project: Acquire a fixed MRI
Received: June 2, 2026
City: Harlan | County: Shelby - Applicant: Wayne County Hospital
Project: Acquire a Linear Accelerator
Received: April 29, 2026
City: Corydon| County: Wayne
Decision Issued: June 24, 2026
Decision Issued: June 24, 2026 - Applicant: Kossuth Regional Health Center
Project: Acquire a da Vinci 5 Surgical Robot
Received: May 4, 2026
City: Algona | County: Kossuth
Decision Issued: May 28, 2026 - Applicant: Shenandoah Medical Center
Project: Acquire and install a fixed MRI system
Received: April 27, 2026
City: Shenandoah | County: Page
Decision Issued: May 28, 2026 - Applicant: Avera Holy Family
Project: Replacement of a fixed MRI Unit
Received: April 22, 2026
City: Estherville | County: Emmet
Decision Issued: May 28, 2026 - Applicant: Dallas County Hospital
Project: Acquire and install a fixed MRI system
Received: April 14, 2026
City: Perry | County: Dallas
Decision Issued: May 11, 2026 - Applicant: Compass Memorial Healthcare
Project: Purchase Robotic-Assisted Surgical System
Received: April 10, 2026
City: Marengo | County: Iowa
Decision Issued: May 11, 2026 - Applicant: Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center
Project: Bed increase of 5 acute care beds. Increase from 263 to 268
Received: March 4, 2026
City: West Burlington | County: Des Moines
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: Hancock County Health System
Project: Purchase of a fixed MRI System
Received: March 6, 2026
City: Britt | County: Hancock
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: Belmond Community Hospital
Project: Purchase of DaVinci 5 Robotic System
Received: March 6, 2026
City: Belmond | County: Wright
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: Crawford County Memorial Hospital
Project: Purchase of a fixed MRI System
Received: March 6, 2026
City: Denison | County: Crawford
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: Manning Regional Healthcare Center
Project: Purchase of a fixed MRI System
Received: March 9, 2026
City: Manning | County: Carroll
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: Greater Regional Health
Project: Purchas DaVinci Robotic Surgical System
Received: March 11, 2026
City: Creston | County: Union
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: Waverly Health Center
Project: Purchase da Vinci Robotic System
Received: March 17, 2026
City: Waverly | County: Bremer
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: Lucas County Health Center
Project: Purchase a fixed MRI scanner
Received: March 11, 2026
City: Chariton | County: Lucas
Decision Issued: April 20, 2026 - Applicant: St. Luke's (Jones RMC)
Project: Purchase and install a da Vinci 5 (DV5) robotic surgical system
Received: February 15, 2026
City: Anamosa | County: Jones
Decision Issued: March 25, 2026 - Applicant: Mahaska Health Partnership
Project: Purchase a PET/CT Scanner
Received: February 23, 2026
City: Oskaloosa | County: Mahaska
Decision Issued: March 25, 2026 - Applicant: Ellsworth Municipal Hospital
Project: Purchase a Da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system
Received: December 18, 2025
City: Iowa Falls | County: Hardin
Decision Issued: March 11, 2026 - Applicant: Hegg Memorial Hospital
Project: Acquire MRI equipment
Received: February 10, 2025
City: Rock Valley | County: Sioux
Decision Issued: March 11, 2026 - Applicant: Cass County Memorial Hospital
Project: Purchase a PET/CT System and general renovation
Received: January 7, 2025
City: Atlantic | County: Cass
Decision Issued: February 9, 2026 - Applicant: Clear Lake Surgical Center
Project: Establish an ambulatory surgical center
Received: October 10, 2025
City: Clear Lake | County: Cerro Gordo
Decision Issued: January 6, 2026 - Applicant: On with Life
Project: 2 bed expansion
Received: November 5, 2025
City: Ankeny | County: Polk
Decision Issued: January 6, 2026 - Applicant: Sioux Center Health
Project: Purchase of Equipment DaVinci Xi Robot Surgery System
Received: September 25, 2025
City: Sioux City | County: Sioux County
Decision Issued: October 20, 2025 - Applicant: St. Anthony Regional Hospital
Project: Purchase and Installation of a Fixed PET/CT Scanner
Received: August 21, 2025
City: Carrol | County: Carroll
Decision Issued: September 24, 2025 - Applicant: Orange City Area Health System
Project: Purchase Di Vinci Surgical Robot
Received: July 19, 2025
City: Orange City | County: Sioux
Decision Issued: September 4, 2025 - Applicant: Surgical Partners of Iowa
Application Received: March 12, 2025
Project: Establish an ambulatory surgical center and clinic
City: Urbandale | County: Dallas
Decision Issued: August 15, 2025 - Applicant: Northwest Iowa Ambulatory Surgery Center (NW ASC)
Application Received: March 12, 2025
Project: Establish an ambulatory surgical center
City: Orange City | County: Sioux
Extension Issued: May 11, 2026 - Applicant: CCRC of Tiffin, LLC
Application Received: May 18, 2023
Project: 40 Bed Nursing Facility
City: Tiffin | County: Johnson
Extension Issued: June 23, 2025 - Applicant: UnityPoint Health, Waterloo Allen Hospital
Application Received: July 17, 2024
Project: Allen Project Third Cardiac Catheterization Lab
City: Waterloo | County: Black Hawk
Extension Issued: June 23, 2025 - Applicant: Oaknoll Retirement Residence
Application Received: March 11, 2024
Project: Addition of 12 Licensed Nursing Beds
City: Iowa City | County: Johnson
Extension Issued: June 23, 2025
- Applicant: Floyd Valley Healthcare
Project: Purchase of Equipment DaVinci Xi Robot Surgery System
Received: October 30, 2025
City: Le Mars | County: Plymouth
Project Closed: May 18, 2026 - Applicant: Crystal Heights Care Center
Project: Bed increase of 13 ICF beds from 72 to 85.
Received: March 5, 2026
City: Oskaloosa | County: Mahaska
Project Closed: April 23, 2026 - Applicant: Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center
Project: Purchase Di Vinci Surgical Robot
Received: August 6, 2025
City: West Burlington | County: Des Moines
Project Closed: March 17, 2026 - Applicant: Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center
Project: Bed increase of 5 acute care beds. Increase from 263 to 268
Received: January 27, 2026
City: West Burlington | County: Des Moines
Project Closed: March 16, 2026 - Applicant: Southeast Iowa Behavioral Healthcare Center (SIBHC)
Project: Convert 16 existing intermediate care facilities (ICF) / for person with mental illness(PMI) beds to nursing facility beds.
Received: August 27, 2025
City: Keokuk| County: Lee
Project Closed: March 16, 2026 - Applicant: Winneshiek County Medical Hospital d/b/a WinnMed
Project: Purchase Di Vinci Surgical Robot
Received: July 15, 2025
City: Decorah | County: Winneshiek
Project Closed: February 10, 2026 - Applicant: UnityPoint Health, Iowa Methodist Medical Center
Application Received: March 12, 2025
Project: Acquisition of Equipment DaVinci Xi Robot Surgery System
City: Des Moines | County: Polk
Project Closed: January 6, 2026
Submission Guidelines
PLEASE READ PRIOR TO COMPLETING AN APPLICATION
Reviewability Determination
If the reviewability of a project is in question a Reviewability Determination may be requested prior to the submission of an application.
NOTE: If a Reviewability Determination results in having to file a CON application, the applicant may apply as soon as they receive the determination.
Guidelines on How to Apply for Certificate of Need
- Prior to completing an application, review Iowa Code sections 135.611-135.78 and Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 441—chapters 123 and 124. These materials will provide information about Certificate of Need (“CON”) and the application process.
- The applicant will file an electronic copy of the entire application (including any attachments). Certificate of Need Application Form
- Once the application is submitted the applicant will receive information on how to electronically pay the appropriate CON filing fee, per section Iowa Code section 135.63.
PLEASE NOTE: ICF/ID’s and ICF/PMI’s are exempt from the CON filing fee.
- CON staff will review the application for completeness upon receipt. Within fourteen (14) days of acceptance, the application will be deemed complete, or a request for additional information will be issued.
- If a request for additional information is issued, responses to the questions must be made in writing and delivered electronically to [email protected].
- Affected party letters in support or opposition can be submitted to the applicant or to [email protected].
- An applicant may withdraw its application at any time without prejudice.
- The application, other materials in the project file and any evidence offered at the public hearing are considered public record and are available for public inspection, copying, and disclosure under Iowa Open Records Law – Iowa Code Chapter 22.
An affected party may submit a letter of support or opposition to a specific project. An affected party is now required to submit written support or opposition. Neutral letters can also be provided.
NOTE: Any dissatisfied party who is an affected person with respect to the application, may request a rehearing in accordance with Iowa Code chapter 17A and rules of the department. If a rehearing is not requested or an affected party remains dissatisfied after the request for rehearing, an appeal may be taken in the manner provided by Iowa Code chapter 17A.
Application and Other Forms
Please carefully review the purpose of your submission before selecting a form. If you are submitting a Certificate of Need (CON) Application, a complete application requires payment of the processing fee to be considered a project. Additional forms are included below related to the Certificate of Need Program (e.g., Reviewability Determination, Extension Request, Reduction in Bed Capacity, etc.). These forms do not require a fee. Selecting the correct form helps avoid delays.
Projects Reviewed by the Certificate of Need Program
FY 2026 Projects (73.09 KB) .pdf
Back to top