210 ILCS 170/17: Certificate of need; licenses.

(a) A birth center shall obtain a certificate of need from the Health Facilities and Services Review Board under the Health Facilities Planning Act before receiving a license by the Department under this Act.

(b) If, after obtaining an initial certificate of need under subsection (a), a birth center seeks to increase the bed capacity of the birth center, the birth center must obtain a certificate of need from the Health Facilities and Services Review Board before increasing the bed capacity.

(c) A birth center in a medically underserved area, as determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shall receive priority in obtaining a certificate of need under this Section.