Emory Healthcare CEO John Fox, in arguing against a proposal by Gwinnett Medical Center to perform open-heart surgery “in house,” writes that “avoiding unnecessary duplication of services” actually reduces medical costs for consumers.

That, of course, runs contrary to all marketplace logic. Competition promotes better pricing for consumers. More importantly, having open-heart services closer to home will save lives and provide convenience for Gwinnett heart patients and their families.

The rules and laws that protect medical service providers like Emory from competition and prevent hospitals like GMC from serving the community should be repealed.

From the Fox commentary:

Recently, Emory Hospitals, along with Piedmont Hospital, appealed Georgia’s Department of Community Health’s decision to allow Gwinnett Medical Center to perform open-heart procedures. The appeal was made to support and uphold the stated purpose of the CON rule and legislation to ensure patient access through coordinated planning of new services and to reduce overall health and medical costs by avoiding unnecessary duplication of services.

County has what it needs to treat hearts

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