HCA and CADAS should be ashamed for objecting to Erlanger’s plans to open an 88-bed behavioral health center in Chattanooga. Both are citing a lack of need for more behavioral health beds in Chattanooga as the basis for their objections to Erlanger’s request – which is completely laughable.
HCA and CADAS would be far more credible had they been honest in their objections. Their real fear is that a new – and much-needed - behavioral health center will take away paying patients from their respective facilities. Perhaps if they cited that concern in their objections, it would pass the straight-face test.
It is highly likely that neither HCA nor CADAS would be objecting to Erlanger’s request if that request was limited to serving only the uninsured, underinsured or non-paying population suffering from mental health issues.
If anyone doubts the need for more behavior health beds in this community (both paying and non-paying), they should talk with the staff at any of Erlanger’s five emergency centers. And, conversely, they should feel free to stop by Parkridge Valley and CADAS to see for themselves how many indigent behavioral health patients those organizations are serving on a regular basis.
Donna Bourdon