The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics’ second try to obtain a state certificate it needs to build a new $230 million facility off Interstate 380 is getting pushback just as the five-member State Health Facilities Council prepares to reconsider the project this week.
“If approved, this would be the most expensive hospital in the state’s history,” according to a media advisory MercyOne distributed last week. “UIHC is again asking for approval to build an expensive, taxpayer-funded hospital which would duplicate services in the region and unnecessarily compete with community hospitals.”
The state council in February narrowly rejected UIHC’s first application — voting 3-2 to deny permission to build the 300,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Highway 965 and Forevergreen Road. Among the councilors who voted “no” was Carol Earnhardt, who resigned unexpectedly in May.
