Four hospital systems are vying for state approval to expand their presence in Buncombe County — and the result could have big repercussions for the region’s health care landscape.
Wednesday was the deadline for applicants to submit their plans to the state Department of Health and Human Services for providing up to 129 more acute-care beds serving residents of Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties.
State law mandates that health care providers must apply for approval, also known as a “Certificate of Need,” to expand certain services and facilities, such as the number of beds. The process has played out multiple times in recent years as the region’s health care needs grow…