Opinion ID: 1272842
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Project Review Criteria

Text: Appellant's final argument claiming that the Board exceeded its statutory authority in granting the CON involves S.C.Code Ann. § 44-7-210. Appellant argues the Board's finding that the Plan standards did not require CCMC to establish the project review criteria [5] is violative of § 44-7-210. We agree. Section 44-7-210(C) provides, in relevant part: The department may not issue a Certificate of Need [CON] unless an application complies with the State Health Plan, Project Review Criteria, and other regulations. Based on project review criteria and other regulations, which must be identified by the department, the department may refuse to issue a Certificate of Need even if an application complies with the State Health Plan. See also 24A S.C.Code Ann. Reg. 61-15 § 307.1 (Supp.2005) (department may refuse to issue a CON even if an application is in compliance with the State Health Plan but is inconsistent with project review criteria or departmental regulations). The Board determined that the first Plan standard for MRI services stating every hospital should have an available MRI unit meant that CCMC did not have to establish the project review criteria. This was error. Section 44-7-210(C) and the governing regulations are clear in establishing Plan standards and project review criteria as separate and distinct requirements that must be met as part of the CON application process. Because the Board held that CCMC did not have to prove compliance with the project review criteria by virtue of the first Plan standard, appellant was prohibited from presenting its case to challenge CCMC's compliance with the project review criteria. Again, CCMC's compliance with the project review criteria is an essential step in the CON process, and this prerequisite is independent of compliance with the State Health Plan. Accordingly, we remand this case to the ALC to determine whether CCMC's application for a fixed, in-house MRI unit satisfies the project review criteria identified in the Plan.