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Gov. Patrick Morrisey has launched a campaign to ensure West Virginia is on equal footing with our surrounding states when it comes to state regulation. The goal is to support economic development and remove unnecessary regulations. Everyone supports that effort, and we applaud the governor for his bold actions. òòò½ÊÓÆµ we launch our Backyard Brawl, we also need to ensure we do not eliminate needed programs that help support communities across West Virginia, such as the certificate of need (CON) program.

The West Virginia CON program has come under increased scrutiny. In fact, every year since I have been in the Legislature there have been several attempts to eliminate the program. Critics argue that the CON program stifles competition and drives up costs. The reality is CON helps ensure communities across West Virginia have access to needed medical services, and eliminating CON would devastate our stateòòò½ÊÓÆµ™s delicate rural health care delivery system.

Scot C. Heckert, R-Wood, is a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

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