The proposed affiliation between Harrison Medical Center in Kitsap County and the Franciscan Health Care System will not require a certificate of need process.

That is the determination of the Washington State Department of Health which was just made public by the department.

The certificate of need process is a lengthy process that potentially would cost millions of dollars and would include public comment.

Officials at both Harrison and Franciscan have said that the process was not required because the affiliation is not a merger or a purchase and the state has now agreed.

The two medical entities plan to affiliate and this decision by the state makes that reality a faster process with less public interaction.

More details and reaction will be posted soon.