Cartersville-based Georgia Advanced Surgery Center for Women owners Hugo Ribot Jr., MD, and Malcolm Barfield, DO, sued the Georgia Department of Community Health, claiming the state's certificate-of-need legislation is unconstitutional, according to Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Here are four things to know:
1. The state denied Drs. Ribot's and Barfield's proposal to build a second operating room in the ASC.
2. Officials also denied their proposal to contract with other surgeons to use the surgery center. The surgeons filed the suit after receiving the denial.
3. The ASC owners' lawyers testified in front of the state Supreme Court on June 26, saying the law violates anti-monopoly provisions in the Georgia Constitution.
4. Assistant Attorney General Monica Sullivan said CON opponents should not try to overturn the legislation in the court system, as no efforts to do this have reaped success to date. Rather, Ms. Sullivan said the lawyers should take their case to the General Assembly.