SC DHEC wants review of Certificate of Need ruling

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s public health department wants the state’s highest court to revisit its ruling that the agency must administer a program regulating the building or expansion of medical facilities even though funding was vetoed by the governor.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday filed a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court.

Last year, Gov. Nikki Haley vetoed the nearly $2 million needed to run the Certificate of Need program, saying the process would be best left to be sorted out in the free market. Hospitals sued, saying that state law still mandates the review.

The court told DHEC to find another way to fund the program. In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Haley said Tuesday the court was out of line.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP