The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration denied Ocala, Fla.-based Munroe Regional Medical Center's request to build a $102 million hospital at its existing TimberRidge campus in Ocala, according to the Ocala Star Banner.
State healthcare regulators approved Munroe Regional's proposal in December 2016. After the preliminary approval, three different local hospitals, owned by Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America, filed a petition to block the construction of the new hospital. Munroe Regional is operated by Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
In November 2017, an administrative law judge sided with the petitioners and recommended that AHCA reverse its approval, claiming that AHCA's preliminary approval was issued without sufficient analysis.
AHCA officially reversed its approval Feb. 21, 2018.
Munroe Regional officials, while disappointed by the ruling, will submit a new certificate of need application to AHCA in the coming months.
"We remain committed to providing high-quality care to our patients across Marion County and, while we continue to pursue a hospital at TimberRidge, we are moving forward with other plans to enhance our services at our main campus and physician practice locations," David Larrick, Monroe Regional's marketing director, told the Ocala Star Banner.