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Health care costs fuel debate over regulation

Jim Witmer Kettering Medical Center upgraded their neonatal intensive care unit.

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Jim Witmer Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek begins accepting emergency department patients on Feb. 22.

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Submitted Kettering Medical Center on Jan. 1 upgraded neonatal intensive care unit to care for sicker babies.

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Jim Witmer Miami Valley Hospital South has two large expansions under way, one of which opens in March.

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By Ben Sutherly, Staff Writer Updated 11:39 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012

Ohio and 22 other states scrapped their need-based rules for hospitals as part of a national trend toward deregulation, leaving the region’s two dominant health care networks to fight toe to toe without a “certificate of need” process.

Premier and KHN alone will spend an estimated $1.2 billion on capital improvements between 2011 and 2015, much of it for new and expanded hospitals, but also for noncompetitive investments such as electronic medical records that hospital officials say will save money.

But is more always better? Our reporters look into this pricey battle for market share and the history of the "certificate of need" process to let you decide.

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