The Gateway to Care: North Carolina’s High-Stakes Battle Over Healthcare Competition
By Marge | Published 2025-12-26T18:49:29.13+00:00
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North Carolina December 26, 2025: The ruling, handed down by Superior Court judges from across the state, rejected a challenge brought by Dr. Jay Singleton, a New Bern eye surgeon. Singleton’s lawsuit, which has been winding through the courts since 2020, argued that the CON law created illegal monopolies and violated his constitutional right to "enjoy the fruits of his own labor."
The Singleton Lawsuit: A Fight for "Economic Liberty"Dr. Singleton’s case was built on a simple, frustrating premise: he owns a state-of-the-art surgical facility, but state law forbids him from using it for most surgeries. Because the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has not officially declared a "need" for more operating rooms in his area, Singleton is legally forced to perform his procedures at the local hospital.The cost difference is staggering. Singleton testif