Four health systems are competing for an acute care bed expansion in North Carolina under the state’s certificate-of-need process.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ “2025 State Medical Facilities Plan” determined an acute care need of 129 beds for the service areas of Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties. The CON application deadline is Oct. 15, with review to begin Nov. 1.
1. UNC Health
Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health and Hendersonville, N.C.-based UNC Health Pardee plan to file a proposal for a 129-bed community hospital in Buncombe County by the Oct. 15 deadline, a health system spokesperson told Becker’s Oct. 7.
“Building on UNC Health Pardee’s record of public service and proven experience and dedication to western North Carolina, and UNC Health’s commitment to the health and wellness of our state, this new hospital will increase access and improve the care available in the fast-growing region that includes Buncombe County and surrounding counties,” the spokesperson said.
2. Mission Health
Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, is also applying for the 129 beds, a spokesperson told Becker’s.
“Mission Hospital accepts thousands of transfers each year from other hospitals that have available beds — including facilities currently seeking approval to expand — because patients need high level medical care only available in western North Carolina at our hospital,” the spokesperson said. “Not all acute care beds are the same. Instead of adding more beds at facilities that are unable to provide the complex medical and surgical care needed, the region would be better served by expanding bed capacity at Mission Hospital. We consider it a privilege to care for our region’s sickest patients but need more beds to do so.”
3. Novant Health
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health plans to apply to build a new community hospital in Buncombe County, a spokesperson told Becker’s. The planned facility, Novant Health Asheville (N.C.) Medical Center, would include acute care beds, an emergency department and imaging and pharmacy services on a 24-acre site.
“We remain deeply committed to extending high-quality, compassionate care to western North Carolina,” the spokesperson said. “Over the past year, we’ve worked closely with the community and local physicians to grow our specialty care network in the region and look forward to applying in October for additional beds outlined by the State Medical Facilities Plan.”
4. AdventHealth
Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth is seeking to add the 129 acute care beds to its new hospital planned for Buncombe County, bringing its total bedcount to 222, a spokesperson told Becker’s.
North Carolina previously approved the system’s two CON applications, one for 67 and another for 26 beds, for the hospital. Mission Health appealed those decisions in court, the Asheville Watchdog reported Oct. 6.
Construction on the new hospital will begin once appeals of the two CONs are resolved, the AdventHealth spokesperson said. The system has secured more than 100 endorsements from elected officials, local governments, first-responder agencies, community organizations, healthcare nonprofits and educational institutions.
“This expansion reflects the voices of our community,” the spokesperson said. “AdventHealth has hosted more than 50 listening sessions across Buncombe and surrounding counties. People shared their desire for more emergency care, specialty services, and compassionate providers close to home. We are honored once again by the outpouring of people submitting letters of support and telling us they want AdventHealth to bring this access to expanded and higher acuity care.”
