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June 14, 2022

Ms. Micheala Mitchell

Chief, Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section
Division of Health Service Regulation
2704 Mail Center Service
Raleigh, NC 27699-2704

Re: Support for AdventHealth Hospital in Western North Carolina

Dear Ms. Mitchell:

Please accept my full support for AdventHealth’s proposal to develop a new acute care hospital in
Western North Carolina.

The basic principles of the state health planning process are intended to promote competition in
healthcare by ensuring quality, access, and value. The 2022 State Medical Facilities Plan has identified a
need for 67 acute care beds in the Buncombe-Madison-Yancey-Graham service area, which presents a
rare opportunity to introduce a new hospital provider and stimulate competition.

Since 1995, Mission has operated as the sole hospital provider in Buncombe County. After the not-for-
profit health care system was sold to for-profit HCA in 2019, residents have been increasingly vocal of
their desire for improved access and patient choice.

A new AdventHealth hospital in Western North Carolina would mean more choices for patients to
receive high-quality health care close to home and more opportunities for dedicated medical
professionals to build their careers in our community.

According to the 2020 Census, Buncombe County grew over 13 percent from 2010 to 2020 and
experienced the largest population gain of any county in Western North Carolina. In addition, 10 million
visitors come to the Asheville area each year. Consequently, traffic has become increasingly congested,
especially in the downtown area where Mission’s emergency department is located. Time is of the
essence when it comes to emergency care. Residents in critical need of acute care services do not have
minutes to spare. AdventHealth’s proposed hospital will offer Transylvania County residents an effective
geographic alternative to the existing emergency services located on Mission’s busy campus in
downtown Asheville. In addition, the benefit of expanded emergency access via AdventHealth’s new
hospital may have the residual effect of decreasing wait times at Mission, which helps everyone.

As a healthcare provider that has served western North Carolina for more than 100 years, AdventHealth
has an immense depth of knowledge and experience in our community that cannot be replicated by any
other provider. AdventHealth believes in the value of community and has already invested tens of
millions of dollars in the community and charity care in the Asheville area. With more than 18 locations
in and around Asheville, AdventHealth is the logical choice to end the hospital monopoly in Buncombe
County.
For these reasons, I urge the Division of Health Service Regulation to approve AdventHealth’s CON
application. It will offer patients and physicians choice for the first time in Buncombe County and will
provide a much-needed service for the growth population in the surrounding region.

Sincerely,

[Name]
[Organization]