After
90 minutes of testimony before the Senate Government Operations Committee
Tuesday, legislation to allow McLaren Health Care to erect a new facility was
not moved. McLaren has been working for at least two years to get permission to
build a new facility near Clarkston and move approximately 200 beds from the
existing Pontiac location.
After
the Certificate of Need (CON) commission rejected McLaren’s proposal in 2012,
they have been pushing the Legislature to allow for the facility. The move is
opposed by many representing a cross-section of interest groups, labor, and
others, including the United Auto Workers (UAW), the Teamsters, Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Michigan, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, the Economic Alliance for
Michigan, and more.
Competing
hospitals such as Sparrow, Beaumont, Trinity Health, Ascension Health, and
others also oppose.
While
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), sponsor of the bill and
Chair of the Committee, stated he wants the time to speak to his caucus and
ensure accurate information is disseminated, speculation is that the bill was
held because the votes aren’t there in Committee to move the measure.
Republican Senator Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) has confirmed his opposition –
and with the Committee’s two Democratic members, the measure would fall short.