Here’s what you should know:
1. Walla Walla Clinic and Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services filed CON applications to expand their ambulatory presence in the area.
2. The state was expected to issue a decision Nov. 19.
3. Both providers are seeking to fill the gap left by the closure of Walla Walla General Hospital.
4. Walla Walla Clinic currently operates as a CON-exempt operation. If its proposal is approved, the clinic would become a CON-approved operation, allowing any credentialed physician access to the surgery center. The clinic needs an estimated $175,000 for the project, primarily to update its equipment.
5. Providence previously purchased Walla Walla General Hospital. The health system is seeking approval to convert the hospital into an ASC for $3.68 million.
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