North Carolina’s Approval Process Delays Weaverville Hospital from Breaking Ground
It’s been 16 months since AdventHealth got the state health regulator’s green light to build a hospital in Weaverville. AdventHealth had hoped to open the $254 million, 67-bed facility by 2025. But groundbreaking on the 25-acre site on U.S. 25/70 off Ollie Weaver Road has been delayed.
The issue is a waiting game for an administrative law judge to rule on Mission/HCA Healthcare’s appeal of the state’s decision to approve a certificate of need for AdventHealth and not Mission.
Delays Due to Administrative Appeal
We’ve got a pen and ink rendering from an artist of what we hope it will look like. It will be a decent size footprint in that community,” said AdventHealth spokeswoman Victoria Dunkle.
Impact on Opening Date
Based on construction time, it could be 2027 or 2028 before the hospital opens with an estimated two- to three-year timeline to build. Dunkle said the hospital will have a staff of 350-400, including employees for an emergency department.
Expert Insights on Competition
“The fact that you have two hospitals does not mean that the two hospitals are going to compete with one another,” said Barak Richman, a Katharine T. Barlett Distinguished Professor of Law at Duke University’s School of Law with expertise in health care policy.
Role of Insurance Companies and Providers
Richman highlighted the role of insurance companies and primary care providers in directing patients to hospitals. He emphasized the need for a framework of competition to drive informed choices among patients and medical experts.
Challenges in Healthcare Market
Richman discussed challenges in North Carolina’s healthcare market, including the requirement for hospitals to obtain a certificate of need from the state, which hampers competition and entry of new facilities. He emphasized the significance of an open market for hospital companies to compete.
Future Prospects for AdventHealth
Despite the delays and challenges, AdventHealth’s plans for the Weaverville hospital signal a potential for increased competition and choice in healthcare services, offering patients and providers additional options in the region.
