ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Three hospital systems have filed certificate of need applications with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to develop acute care beds in response to a need determination in the 2024 State Medical Facilities Plan for 26 acute care beds in Buncombe County.
According to a release from NCDHHS on Tuesday, the applicants propose three projects:
- MH Mission Hospital LLLP proposes to develop 26 acute care beds at Mission Hospital in Asheville for a total of 759 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $1.6 million and would be completed in July 2025.
- AdventHealth Asheville Inc. and Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation propose a change of scope and cost overrun to develop 26 additional acute care beds at AdventHealth Asheville in Weaverville for a total of 93 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $109.2 million and would be completed in October 2027.
- Novant Health Asheville Medical Center LLC and Novant Health Inc. propose to develop a new acute care hospital, Novant Health Asheville Medical Center in Arden, with 26 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $249.4 million and would be completed in December 2028.
AFTER LEGAL VICTORY, ADVENTHEALTH ADVANCES ON WEAVERVILLE HOSPITAL
State health officials say public hearing for these projects will be held Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. in the Ferguson Auditorium of A-B Tech Community College, located at 340 Victoria Road in Asheville.
Anyone may file written comments concerning this proposal. Comments must be received by the Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section no later than 5 p.m. on July 31.
Comments may be submitted as an attachment to an email if they are sent to DHSR.CON.Comments@dhhs.nc.gov. Comments may also be mailed to the following address:
Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section
Division of Health Service Regulation
2704 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2704
828newsNOW reached out to Mission Health, AdventHealth and Novant Health for comments.
A spokesperson for Mission Health sent the following statement to 828news via email:
“Mission remains committed to providing the region’s most advanced healthcare, and we believe Mission Hospital can best meet Western North Carolina’s growing need for complex medical and surgical care services.
The current utilization of Mission Hospital’s services is very high, including services related to the ICU and adult medical and surgical beds. Currently, Mission Hospital accepts thousands of patient transfers from other hospitals across the region. These transfers reflect a need for the addition of higher acuity beds and services offered by Mission which will meet the needs of patients in Western North Carolina. Additionally, if approved, Mission believes that it can make these beds available on a more expedited timeline than other applicants.”
This is a developing story. Check back at 828newsNOW.com for updates.
