Danbury, Connecticut-based Nuvance Health's certificate of need to terminate labor and delivery services at its Sharon (Conn.) Hospital has been denied by the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy.
In a final decision document, obtained by Becker's, the state's OHS reviewed and determined that Nuvance's certificate of need application had failed to meet the specific requirements to shutter the 78-bed hospital's labor and delivery services.
"Based on careful evaluation of those criteria, OHS determined that denying Sharon Hospital's application to terminate its inpatient labor and delivery services was most consistent with our statutory responsibilities in promoting equal access to high quality health care, controlling costs and ensuring better health for the people of Connecticut," a spokesperson for the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy said in a statement shared with Becker's.
Nuvance initially submitted the certificate of need on Jan. 12, 2022, which was deemed complete on May 11, 2022, according to the document.
Calling it a "tenuous situation," Nuvance Health pointed to years of low volume and ongoing difficulties to find adequate physician and nursing staff for its reason behind wanting to close the unit.
"As a small community hospital within a non-profit health system, Sharon Hospital faces substantial financial and operational challenges to its continued operation of a Labor & Delivery unit," Andrea Rynn, a Nuvance Health spokesperson, said in a statement shared with Becker's.
Following the application denial, Nuvance will be considering all available options as it reassesses the path forward, Ms. Rynn said .