By the Alaska Legislative Digest

The Palin administration has back-peddled on a proposal to end the certificate of need, a controversial state permit for health care facilities. Gov. Sarah Palin proposed ending the CON in her State of the State speech, but after opposition developed the administration agreed to a compromise that leaves community hospitals, psychiatric residential facilities and nursing homes under the program. A new version of the bill, House Bill 337, is before the House Health, Education and Social Services Committee, which held hearings Jan. 31. The committee will continue work on the bill.