McLaren Expansion

SB 1073, which would allow McLaren Health Care to build a new hospital near Clarkston, was rejected by a wide margin on Thursday in the Senate. Detractors expected McLaren would abandon operations at its current facility in Pontiac if the bill were passed.

The Certificate of Need Commission previously rejected the proposal, and a court battle aimed at ensuring McLaren’s expansion failed. The Senate adopted a substitute that would require a healthcare facility to maintain at least 100 beds at a current facility before expanding, but the measure was defeated 11-26.

Opponents of the bill argued the bill subverts the Certificate of Need process that other health care providers must go through before expanding. Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) maintains the bill is a necessary change due to the exclusivity of the current law. The Economic Alliance for Michigan, which works with the Friends of Certificate of Need coalition, praised the vote, saying an additional hospital with too few patients would lead to increased costs and financial stress on the local health care industry.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, December 5, 2014 2:23 PM
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