Two local health care providers are fighting a proposal by Erlanger Health System for a $25 million Behavioral Health Hospital on Holtzclaw Avenue.
Parkridge Valley officials said, "The Erlanger project fails to meet the applicable criteria of need, economic feasibility and contribution to the orderly development of health care facilities and services. CON should be denied."
An attorney for Parkridge Valley, Jerry W. Taylor, said Parkridge Valley will explain its opposition in more detail at the meeting.
Paul Fuchcar of CADAS said it opposes the inclusion of 22 beds for substance abuse and chemical dependency treatment. He said there are already sufficient options for that need locally.
He also questioned the economic feasibility of the project and said there is already a documented shortage of health care facilities to work in such treatment centers in the Greater Chattanooga area.
Erlanger's Joe Winick said, "We were surprised to see their opposition when many mental health patients in desperate need of care spend days waiting in the emergency department for placement. Most available beds are filled and/or other providers are unable or unwilling to serve those in need. There is a great need for behavioral health and chemical dependency services in this region."
There is a hearing in Nashville next Wednesday for the board of the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency to consider Erlanger's application for a Certificate of Need (CON) for the 88-bed facility.
The agency's staff is recommending approval for the hospital.
The staff said it "supports the construction of a Behavioral Health Hospital with the clinical rationale to provide acute adult inpatient psychiatric, geriatric psychiatric, chemical dependency and children and adolescent services in distinct units designed to address their unique needs. This project will also continue to support services to minorities, low-income individuals, TennCare and Medicare enrollees and those in need of emergency involuntary hospitalization."
The City Council recently unanimously approved rezoning for the facility.
Erlanger's Joe Winick said, if the Certificate of Need is approved, the facility should be open by the end of next year.
He said it will be operated by Acadia Health of Nashville and will be a taxpaying entity.
It will follow Erlanger's procedure of accepting those without the means to pay, he said.
The location is on six acres across from the Chattanooga Housing Authority.