The State of North Carolina has agreed to a request from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist to build a new hospital in Greensboro.
However, soon after that decision was made, Cone Health announced that it would appeal.
The two hospital systems have been in a battle over the proposed project, with Atrium arguing that a new hospital in Guilford County would mean improved health care for county residents while Cone has argued that competition for medical professionals and other considerations would drive up cost for patients.
North Carolina is a “Certificate of Need” state, which means that any organization wishing to build a new hospital must get approval from the state by demonstrating that a new hospital in a community is needed and would improve health care in that area.
In early 2023, Atrium applied for the certificate for this project. The state has now approved that request.
On Wednesday, Aug. 9, Cone Health sent out a press release announcing its intention to appeal the state’s decision.
The proposed hospital, which would be in northwest Greensboro on Horse Pen Creek Road, is estimated to cost just under $250 million. The proposal calls for the facility to contain 36 beds and two operating rooms.
The appeal comes as no surprise to anyone. The two health care systems have been fighting it out all year and, two months ago, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan told the Rhino Times that whichever side lost in the Certificate of Need battle would no doubt appeal.
Cone wasted no time in doing so.
“Cone Health will appeal a state decision approving Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s plan to build a hospital in one of the wealthiest communities in Greensboro,” the August 9 press release reads. “The proposed hospital will bring higher health care costs, add no medical services not already available close by and would not serve people living in areas needing more health care options.”
Cone Health CEO Dr. Mary Jo Cagle, in a prepared statement included in the release, reiterated arguments that Cone has been making for months – to both state health officials and to the public.
“This is a poor decision for everyone needing health care in this area,” she stated. “This community doesn’t need a very expensive facility duplicating most of the same services offered by a Cone Health facility just two miles away. Cone Health is already the lower-cost provider. Our quality is already top tier. People in our community already have options when it comes to health care. This decision runs counter to how CON [Certificate of Need] is supposed to work.”
Many believe that, regardless of what Cone officials are saying, the competition in the medical services market would bring down prices and lead to better health care in Guilford County. Cone has had a monopoly on hospital care in the county for decades.
However, Cone Health maintains that the proposed new hospital “puts profits over patients.”
The press release states that Guilford County doesn’t need additional hospital beds or operating rooms, so there’s no need for the hospital.
“Atrium Health plans to move those assets from its High Point Medical Center,” it reads. “People living in the area around the proposed Atrium hospital in Greensboro have 1.6 times the average median income than those around High Point Medical Center. And the $246 million the Greensboro hospital will cost, is money that won’t be invested in expanding care to those High Point communities.”
The release adds, “Cone Health also maintains that the proposed hospital will be a way station to Winston-Salem for anyone needing more than routine hospital care. People being transferred to Atrium-Wake Forest Baptist Health would face higher academic medical center costs.”
The battle, which has already been going on for nearly half a year, will no doubt continue for at least months to come.
Generally, competition breeds lower consumer cost and better services for consumers. However, being that Atrium is a high cost provider to begin with, the size of the facility is meager at best, competition for staff meaning raisinv wages and they would ship patients to WS, I can see Cone’s points as well. If I am an underpaid Cone employee and I am secretly excited it passed as they are going to be the first targets that Atrium goes after for employees and Cone will likely need to open their wallet to keep them employeed there. Can’t hurt with all the Bidenflation at the moment.
Looks like the fight is on and High Point folks are going to be the real Loser in this fight. High Point is now part of Atrium Baptist system, High Point is always on the poor end of things in Guilford county, that’s the way it is folks.
Cone Hospital has a monopoly on health care in Guilford County. It would be good to have competition.
Cone Health wants to maintain their local monopoly. State approval to the contrary. Have you seen your EOBs on Cone Health owned Medical practices? This M.O. is manifest all over the U.S.
I have an EOB here for $1,146 gross. 3 chest XRAYS. Mebbe 10″ total, on reusable plates. Medicare said, no, adjusting it downward by $924. What do people do who do not have health insurance, or private insurance? Without?
Here’s another EOB for $2,260. MRI, mebbe 15″ total. Medicare approval reduced by $1,933. Cone Health doesn’t eat it, they write it off as a loss.
No wonder Cone Health doesn’t want the competition.
In my opinion, Corporate America is a racket, enabled by our govt. You are either in, or out.
Act of 1871?
I disagree with Cone Health that their’s is already top tier. My sister was in patient one year ago. After being there for five days, the linens had not been changed. I called desk and asked about housekeeping and the linens. I told her to bring broom and sweep my sisters room also. Nasty bandages laying on the floor.Been to their er dept lately?. Better pack your lunch for two meals because you aren’t getting anywhere soon. I just bet they are opposed to competition. I would be giving my top quality tier a second look.
I’ve been there several times as a patient and a family member I’m sorry but I think you’re full of biden dung
Exactamundo! Yesterday, my cousin went to the Emergency room at Cone. She had afib and chest pains. She’s been in the hallway for over a day, tended to by her daughter. Hooked up to heart monitor, but has never seen an MD. Someone scrounged up a recliner for her. I had an experience at Cone in 2021, I would never voluntarily go there again.
Don’t believe the Corporate B.S., parsed by lawyers.
Great,cone emergency room experience sucks at best.
Double right.
Not sure who that press release is from but it’s obviously they’ve not been in the ER at Cone Hospital. There are never beds open and people have to wait for hours and hours just to be seen and hours more to recieve a bed.
A little competition for Cone would be welcomed!
Yep, been there, done that!
Triple right.
If another hospital will ease the strain on the emergency room overcrowding, then we need it.
My elderly parents have been sent to Cone and Westley Long and left multiple times without being seen, after waiting for hours.
The older population deserves to be given prompt medical care. We need to protect their rights – if we do not, nobody else will.
Unfortunately, medical care is not a right. It is a privilege. An emergency room visit for me is a probability. I expect to die there.
… this is crazy. Imagine if McDonald’s could say, “You can’t build a Burger King in town, we already sell burgers”
Competition brings LOWER prices. Is the quote a misprint or is that person just completely insane?
No, a paid weasel.
I see both arguments. Obviously Atrium is pushing for a larger footprint in Greensboro. However, i dont see where a small facility in a wealthy neighborhood actually foots the bill. When will Guilford County push for a larger heath care presence in SE, E or NE Guilford county? Awful Lotta homes going up in both areas but we still see a deficit of hospital access.
It’s gonna get a lot worse.
Cone is afraid of competition. Let the free market rule. If they have to compete service will improve. Let the patients decide who is best.
My elderly father in law was parked in a hallway overnight recently after a visit to the Cone emergency services. They were overwhelmed and had zero space or staff to handle their current mission.
Also price transparency and competition always lead to better prices, outcomes, and service.
I’d love to see Atrium/Wake Forest in this location or elsewhere on the Northeast side. Now I have to drive to HP or Winston to see some of my doctors, and last year we had to drive to Winston for my husband’s surgery. We’ve slowly transitioned to Wake Forest as we saw a decline in the care at Cone over the years. It’s not what we wanted but it’s obvious that Cone doesn’t offer the same level of care they once did. If Cone would improve care, service, and standards instead of using all the money for buying up other practices and expansion maybe people would choose their medical facilities again.