But proposals in Germantown, Clarksburg are stacked against each other due to proximity
(Gazette.net) — The Maryland Health Care Commission has put the proposals of Holy Cross Hospital to build a new hospital in Germantown and Adventist HealthCare for a new hospital in Clarksburg on the same docket so it can do a parallel comparison.
Putting the two on the docket starts the formal review process of the applications from the two hospital organizations, said Pamela Barclay, director of the state commission’s Center for Hospital Services.
The public comment period for the reviews ends Sept. 14. Officials of both organizations are expected to file responses to the plans of the other hospital, but neither has done so yet.
“Typically, we do not get responses until the last day,” Barclay said.
Holy Cross announced in August 2008 a plan to build a 93-bed hospital on the Montgomery College campus in Germantown. Adventist HealthCare announced in April a plan to build a 100-bed hospital on part of a health care campus in Clarksburg.
The state requires new hospitals to receive a certificate of need before they are built, and it is unlikely that both proposals will be approved because of their proximity to each other.
The commission’s reviewer will go over all aspects of the proposals, Barclay said.
“It’s a comparative review, and it’s a competitive situation,” she said.
One aspect that will be considered by the state is the financial health of the two organizations, she said.
Click here to read full article
SOURCE: Gazette.net
