Certificate of need extension refiled for Lee Medical Center

LEESBURG — Lee County commissioners announced Wednesday that a request to extend the Lee County Medical Center’s certificate of need (CON) has been resubmitted to the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Originally filed in February, the department asked that the application be resubmitted closer to the CON’s May 2019 deadline to demonstrate a change in the new hospital’s circumstances.

“Following the CON’s approval, we experienced unanticipated delays, including severe weather, site infrastructure projects and simply the business of building a new hospital,” Eddie Alexander, president/CEO of LCMC OPCO, LLC, the company that will operate and manage Lee County Medical Center, said. “While all of these factors have been resolved, these issues still impacted our timeline.”

Lee County leaders are asking for an additional 12 months to construct the 60-bed hospital. The hospital, which will be located on Grand Island Drive, will be a full-service health care provider, offering both acute and emergency care services for all patients, regardless of ability to pay.

“Despite these delays, we continue to be pleased with the positive progress that we have been able to make, including a number of steps toward developing the land and engineering for the hospital site,” Alexander said. “Specifically, the design of an east/west connector road has been finalized, and the county has obtained all of the necessary easements to begin construction of the connector road and utility lines leading to the hospital.”

Lee Commission Chairman Billy Mathis said the Department of Community Health has helped guide the county through the process of staying current with needed paperwork.

“As we continue this important work, we appreciate the department’s review in our efforts to provide access to local, high-quality care in Lee County,” Mathis said. “Our community has been integral to this process, and we will continue to provide updates over the coming months.”

Upon approval of the extension request, the county expects to break ground on the hospital later this year. For additional ongoing updates, visit www.ABetterLeeCounty.com.

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