A judge ruled in favor of Annapolis, Md.-based Anne Arundel Medical Center's bid to develop a cardiac surgery center, the Capital Gazette reports.
Here are five notes.
1. The judge ruled against two other hospitals' appeals of a state panel's decision May 22.
2. Glen Burnie, Md.-based Baltimore Washington Medical Center and Cheverly-based University of Maryland Capital Region Health can appeal the judge's decision within 30 days.
3. Community hospitals AAMC and BWMC both requested a certificate of need to start open-heart cardiac surgery centers more than two years ago. The Maryland Health Care Commission approved Anne Arundel Medical Center's request but denied BWMC's request.
4. In April 2017, BWMC and Cheverly-based Dimensions Healthcare System — which has since become University of Maryland Capital Region Health — petitioned for the state's decision to be reviewed.
5. County Executive Steve Schuh asked BWMC to withdraw its challenge. In a letter to Baltimore Washington CEO Karen Olscamp, he said the challenge "threatened to undermine Anne Arundel County's chances of establishing a much-needed cardiac care program."