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The ruling came Thursday in a lawsuit between two companies competing to operate a kidney dialysis treatment center in Montgomery County.
The justices earlier had questioned whether the Supreme Court should hear the case. They said the constitution does not give them jurisdiction over certificate-of-need appeals. They said lawmakers should have proposed a companion constitutional amendment to make that change.
In Thursday's ruling, the justices said appeals on certificates-of-need should go through an appropriate lower court first; in this case, chancery court.
The state requires a certificate-of-need in a process designed to avoid duplication of health care services and control costs.