Legislation which aims to get bureaucracy out of the way in the reopening of hospitals in Tennessee’s distressed rural counties overcame its first hurdle during the week of March 8th with approval by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Senate Bill 255 would permit the reestablishment of a hospital, without first obtaining a Certificate of Need (CON), in distressed counties designated by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development as tier two, three, or four.

CON is a legal document required in some states, including Tennessee, before proposed acquisitions, expans...