Acquisition of Capital Medical Center is exempt from certificate of need, DOH rules
The state Department of Health has ruled that MultiCare Health System’s recently completed acquisition of Capital Medical Center is exempt from a process known as certificate of need.
DOH made its ruling March 25, but was more recently posted on the DOH website.
DOH’s ruling can be appealed.
Certificate of need typically comes into play when a new hospital or medical service or more beds are proposed. The process requires a detailed application to the state, and decisions can be appealed and result in public hearings.
In a letter to DOH, a representative from Tacoma-based MultiCare argued that the acquisition should be exempt from the process because no major changes were planned for the west Olympia hospital.
A DOH official agreed, noting that “there will be no change in the number of licensed beds, or material changes to the services provided by Capital Medical Center.”
MultiCare paid $44.6 million for Capital Medical Center.
—Rolf Boone
This story was originally published April 15, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
