Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolinas HealthCare Systems and Tenet Healthcare's Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill, S.C., are in court this week to each make their case to build a hospital in Fort Mill, S.C., according to a Charlotte Observer report.
The battle for a certificate of need to build a hospital in Fort Mill dates back to 2006, when the state department of health awarded the CON to Piedmont. Carolinas and Novant Health, which operates Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, appealed the ruling with the department. In 2011, the department awarded Carolinas the CON, and Piedmont and Novant appealed to the South Carolina Administrative Law Court. Novant has since dropped its bid, leaving Piedmont and Carolinas to battle it out, according to the report.
In Piedmont's arguments against Carolina's receiving the CON, the system's attorney argued that Carolina's claims that 6.3 percent of its patient revenue goes to charity care may be overstated. Piedmont cited Carolinas' loss of a $60 million annual payment from Mecklenburg County for charity care and public health services as well as reports that Carolinas had sued its patients to reclaim costs for unpaid services. Carolinas argued those patients represented less than one percent of all patients and argued Piedmont's claims against its charity care numbers were based on hearsay, according to the report.
Testimony is expected to finish next week.
Hospitals Appeal SC's Decision to Award Carolinas HealthCare Certificate of Need
The battle for a certificate of need to build a hospital in Fort Mill dates back to 2006, when the state department of health awarded the CON to Piedmont. Carolinas and Novant Health, which operates Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, appealed the ruling with the department. In 2011, the department awarded Carolinas the CON, and Piedmont and Novant appealed to the South Carolina Administrative Law Court. Novant has since dropped its bid, leaving Piedmont and Carolinas to battle it out, according to the report.
In Piedmont's arguments against Carolina's receiving the CON, the system's attorney argued that Carolina's claims that 6.3 percent of its patient revenue goes to charity care may be overstated. Piedmont cited Carolinas' loss of a $60 million annual payment from Mecklenburg County for charity care and public health services as well as reports that Carolinas had sued its patients to reclaim costs for unpaid services. Carolinas argued those patients represented less than one percent of all patients and argued Piedmont's claims against its charity care numbers were based on hearsay, according to the report.
Testimony is expected to finish next week.
More Articles on the Fort Mill CON:
Presbyterian Healthcare Renews Fight for Fort Mill HospitalHospitals Appeal SC's Decision to Award Carolinas HealthCare Certificate of Need