News

Public hearing planned on hospital bed proposals

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 11, 2025

A public hearing will be held next month on four proposals to add hospital beds in Buncombe County.

Four applicants filed certificate of need applications with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to develop acute care beds in response to a need determination in the 2025 State Medical Facilities Plan for 129 acute care beds in Buncombe County, according to a press release from DHHS.
A public hearing on the four proposals to add the hospital beds will be held Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Ferguson Auditorium of AB-Tech Community College, 340 Victoria Road in Asheville.
Anyone may file written comments concerning the proposals. Comments must be received by the Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1.
The four proposed projects include:
• UNC Health West Medical Center Inc proposes to develop a new hospital in Asheville — UNC Health West Medical Center — with 129 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $711.1 million and would be completed in July 2031.
• Novant Health Asheville Medical Center LLC and Novant Health Inc propose to develop a new hospital in Arden — Novant Health Asheville Medical Center — with 34 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $322.2 million and would be completed in January 2030.
• AdventHealth Asheville Inc and Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation propose a change of scope to develop 129 additional acute care beds at AdventHealth Asheville in Weaverville for a total of 222 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $253.7 million and would be completed in January 2030.
• MH Mission Hospital LLLP proposes to develop 129 additional acute care beds at Mission Hospital in Asheville for a total of 862 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $198.5 million and would be completed in January 2031.
Comments concerning the proposals may be submitted as an attachment to an email if they are sent to DHSR.CON.Comments@dhhs.nc.gov. Comments may also be mailed to the following address:
Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section
Division of Health Service Regulation
2704 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2704
For more information, contact Ena Lightbourne, Project Analyst, Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section, (919) 855-3873, ena.lightbourne@dhhs.nc.gov.