AdventHealth announced Thursday that it has been granted approval from state health authorities to add 26 beds to the new hospital it is building in Weaverville.
The move will bring the total number of beds at the facility to 93.
The Florida-based provider, which is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, bested two other applicants – Winston-Salem-based Novant Health and Nashville-based HCA Healthcare – to win the state’s approval, which is known as a Certificate of Need.
"We are thrilled to receive this approval, which allows us to better serve our community's health care needs," Brandon Nudd, President and CEO for AdventHealth’s hospitals in Western North Carolina, said in a statement. "This expansion is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional care and improving health outcomes for people living across our region.”
Novant Health said in a statement that while it is disappointed it did not receive the Certificate of Need, it will continue its work in the region.
"From responding to emergencies like Hurricane Helene to adding care locations such as our proposed imaging center and multi-specialty medical office building, Novant Health is dedicated to this community and will continue to explore opportunities to bring additional healthcare services and choice to the area," the company said. "We will continue to listen to and partner with local physicians to meet the needs of the community, and look forward to applying for the additional beds outlined by the State Medical Facilities Plan in 2025."
A spokesperson for HCA said Mission "remains committed to acting in the best interest of the broader region" and that the company is "evaluating our options at this time."
"We strongly believe Mission Hospital can best meet Western North Carolina’s growing need for complex medical and surgical care," the spokesperson said. "If awarded, Mission Hospital could have had these beds available in the shortest period of time, beds which are desperately needed by our community."
HCA’s Mission Hospital remains the largest facility in the county, with 815 beds. But its competitors have been steadily seeking to increase their reach, particularly as HCA faces federal scrutiny and a litany of lawsuits over issues including alleged monopolistic practices and patient safety concerns at Mission Hospital.
In a statement, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) praised the decision. Stein, who is governor-elect, has been among HCA's most vocal critics and previously urged state health officials to reject Mission Hospital's application for the Certificate of Need.
"This decision is going to increase competition in health care in western North Carolina, which will in turn decrease costs and improve quality for patients," Stein said. “I’m hopeful that this will help people get higher-quality, more affordable care when they need it.”
The new AdventHealth hospital in Weaverville will be based on more than 30 acres of land and will serve patients primarily from Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties.
According to the proposal submitted by AdventHealth to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the project will cost about $109 million and is expected to be completed in October 2027.
Even as its competitors jockey for influence, HCA is continuing to expand as well. On Tuesday, the healthcare giant opened a new emergency room facility in Arden, aimed at addressing the needs of patients in southern Buncombe County.
Note: This story was updated on December 2, 2024 to include a statement from North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein.
