Certificate-of-need laws require health care providers to obtain government permission slips to open new facilities or purchase some equipment, restricting access to vital services. While some states have repealed CON laws, a majority still have them on the books, including South Carolina.
However, Gov. McMaster suspended these laws to better tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, empowering more health workers to care for South Carolinians.
By removing these restrictions on our hospitals, Gov. McMaster is trusting our health care providers to acquire the equipment, space, and beds they need to fight this virus.
But unless we make these changes permanent, our health care system will find it difficult to increase health care access and provide critical health care services for South Carolinians.