The Legislature hereby declares that it is the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the offering and development of long-term care services should be made in a planned, orderly and economical manner consistent with and appropriate to services needed by people in various regions, districts or localities in the State of Oklahoma, and that it is essential to the realization of this public policy that the offering and development of long-term care services in the state be made in accordance with the needs for such services. It is the purpose of the Legislature in enacting this act¹ to further this public policy by providing for the submittal of plans and applications, and by prohibiting the offering, development or change of existing services prior to the issuance of a certificate of need by the State Department of Health.