Senators debate ending state control of expansion, equipment

By Jeffrey Collins

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)– South Carolina senators have started what will likely be a debate over several days about whether to get rid of a state law that requires hospitals and other medical clinics to get permission to expand or buy most major medical equipment. The original goal of the Certificate of Need program was to make sure medical care was spread around the state and make sure hospitals didn’t end up in overspending because of competition. But supporters of a bill to end the program say those limits aren’t needed with huge health care conglomerates.