Victory in Round 1 of CON Case
If you believe that free and competitive markets deliver better quality at lower costs, you will enjoy reading the decision handed down by Judge Carlton Reeves yesterday in the case of Charles Slaughter vs. Dr. Thomas Dobbs as the Mississippi State Health Officer.
The case concerns Certificate of Needs (CON) laws that are pervasive in Mississippi’s healthcare arena.
From Judge Reeve’s order, “Taken as true, as the Court must, the allegations reveal that CON laws result in more costly, less accessible, and worse quality health care. What’s more, plaintiff claims that the basis for CON laws and the moratoria is pure economic protectionism—an illegitimate government interest.”
Judge Reeve’s also points out Mississippi’s case is an outlier from other CON cases due to Mississippi having a 40-year-old moratoria, banning start-ups, and that “this unprecedented context is highly relevant”, especially in light of a global pandemic when at-home health care is in demand.
Please see the entire order MS CON Case Order Denying Motions to Dismiss and listen in to our podcast series on this case with Aaron Rice of MJI and Butch Slaughter
Podcast Video Clip
Episode 1: A Huge Roadblock in Trying To Start a Small Business in the Healthcare Industry
January 26, 2021
Episode2: A Huge Roadblock in Trying To Start a Small Business in the Healthcare Industry
February 9, 2021
BPF continues its conversation with Mississippi Justice Institute (MJI) Director Aaron Rice and client Butch Slaughter, a physical therapist who is challenging Mississippi’s regulations that are preventing him from opening his own home health agency. Listen to the backstory on Certificates of Need, the need for regulatory reform and how they stymie not only competition, but access to health care, lower costs and a higher level of service for the people of Mississippi.
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