Hospital group sues over general surgery rule

A recent ruling by the State Board of Community Health to reclassify general surgeons has drawn a lawsuit by a group of community hospitals. A rule approved December 13th by the Board reclassifies general surgeons from "multi-specialty" to "single-specialty" classification. This allows general surgeons to set up ambulatory surgery centers, without having to go through the state's certificate-of-need process. General surgeons say these centers could provide services now available only in hospitals. The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals says that previous court rulings indicate the Legislature reserves the right to decide whether to reclassify general surgery.