ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Four major health systems are competing to build or expand hospitals in Buncombe County after the state determined the region needs 129 additional acute-care beds.
According to the 2025 State Medical Facilities Plan (SMFP), published annually by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties have a combined need for 129 new beds. The SMFP uses population and hospital data to determine medical resource needs across the state each year.
The process is part of North Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) program, which requires state approval before major health care construction projects can move forward. The deadline for CON applications is Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, and the state review process is expected to begin in November…