Montgomery, AL – The state's Certificate of Need Review Board has approved building a new hospital in North Alabama after six years of debate. But construction on the project could be stalled if the decision is appealed.
The board approved Huntsville Hospital's application to build a 60-bed hospital near the Limestone County line. The hospital would serve about 90,000 people in western Madison and eastern Limestone counties. It would become the centerpiece of Huntsville Hospital's Madison Medical Park.
Huntsville Hospital's proposal was chosen over that of Crestwood Medical Center, a for-profit hospital that began pushing for a Madison hospital in 2002 and had the unanimous backing of the Madison and Triana city councils.
Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood's chief executive, said her side has not decided whether to appeal the decision to state court.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)