South Carolina Governor Vetoes Funding for Certificate of Need Program

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has vetoed the certificate of need program in the state's budget, saying bureaucracy should not determine communities' needs for hospitals or medical equipment, according to an Island Packet report.

State funding for the CON program would have cost $727,189 in the 2012-2013 budget, according to Gov. Haley's veto notes.

The CON program was at the crux of a recent controversy over Hilton Head Hospital's request for a new outpatient center in Bluffton, S.C. Savannah-based St. Joseph's/Candler Health System opposed that request, as it already operates an outpatient center in Bluffton and said patient demand was insufficient to build another facility.

The state's Department of Health and Environmental Control initially rejected Hilton Head's CON application in February but later reversed that decision.

South Carolina is one of 35 states with a CON law. State lawmakers must vote on whether to uphold or override the governor's vetoes. The South Carolina Hospital Association, however, is not pleased with the decision and has said it will work to override the veto.

More Articles on Certificate of Need Laws:

4 Helpful Steps for Healthcare Transaction Regulatory Reviews
Pros and Cons of 3 Common Hospital Transaction Structures
Two Hospitals Protest South Carolina's CON Reversal for Hilton Head Hospital





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