19.   Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7 of P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-7) to the contrary, the following are exempt from the certificate of need requirement:
 
   Community-based primary care centers;
 
   Outpatient drug and alcohol services;
 
   Hospital-based medical detoxification for drugs and alcohol;
 
   Ambulance and invalid coach services;
 
   Mental health services which are non-bed related outpatient services;
 
   Full service diagnostic catheterization services, primary angioplasty services, and elective angioplasty services in accordance with a license issued under section 2 of P.L.2021, c.18 (C.26:2H-7.23);
 
   Residential health care facility services;
 
   Dementia care homes;
 
   Capital improvements and renovations to health care facilities;
 
   Additions of medical/surgical, adult intensive care, and adult critical care beds in hospitals;
 
   An increase in the level of neonatal care designation of a health care facility, which provides inpatient, maternity services, from “community perinatal center-basic” to “community perinatal center – intermediate,” as these terms are defined in N.J.A.C.8:33-1.3, or its successor regulation;
 
   Inpatient special psychiatric beds used solely for services for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders;
 
   Replacement of existing major moveable equipment;
 
   Inpatient operating rooms;
 
   Alternate family care programs;
 
   Hospital-based subacute care;
 
   Ambulatory care facilities;
 
   Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation services;
 
   Special child health clinics;
 
   New technology in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of P.L.1998, c.43 (C.26:2H-7d);
 
   Transfer of ownership interest except in the case of an acute care hospital;
 
   Change of site for approved certificate of need within the same county;
 
   Additions to vehicles or hours of operation of a mobile intensive care unit;
 
   Relocation or replacement of a health care facility within the same county except for an acute care hospital;
 
   Continuing care retirement communities authorized pursuant to P.L.1986, c.103 (C.52:27D-330 et seq.);
 
   Magnetic resonance imaging;
 
   Adult day health care facilities;
 
   Pediatric day health care facilities;
 
   Chronic or acute renal dialysis facilities; and
 
   Transfer of ownership of a hospital to an authority in accordance with P.L.2006, c.46 (C.30:9-23.15 et al.).
 
   L.1992, c.160, 19; amended 1998, c.43, s.7. 2006, c.46, s.10; 2015, c.125, s.2; 2017, c.94; 2021, c.18, s.4; 2025, c.320, s.1.