NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer released the following statement today in response to Gov. Henry McMaster’s signing of Senate Bill 164, legislation that would reform South Carolina’s decades-old requirement that hospitals get state permission before adding beds, building outpatient surgery centers, or buying expensive new medical equipment:
“This is important legislation that’s going to help reduce the cost of health care by encouraging competition for services. South Carolina’s old certificate of need law didn’t do anything besides drive up costs by squelching competition.
“You don’t need to explain to the state why there’s a need for a new coffee shop or car dealership. You shouldn’t need to convince them there’s a need for more hospital beds or cutting-edge technology that could hold down costs and save lives.
“On behalf of our small business members, I want to thank House and Senate leaders for shepherding this reform bill through the legislative process, and I want to thank Governor McMaster for signing it and encouraging the kind of competition that would keep prices in check.”
