North Carolina's Certificate of Need Process for Health Care
Public Comment Period is Now Open Through End of July on Applications to Bring New Hospital Beds to Region; In Person Public Hearing Scheduled for August 20
There are three applications to increase hospital beds in New Hanover County to serve the region. According to a news release from the NC Department of Health and Human Services the applications are as follows:
Atrium Health Coastal Inc and Advocate Health Inc propose to develop a new hospital in Wilmington — Atrium Health Wilmington Medical Center — with 42 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $395.7 million and would be completed in January 2032.
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center LLC and Novant Health Inc propose to develop 225 additional acute care beds at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for a total of 954 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $236.7 million and would be completed in January 2030.
UNC Health Wilmington Medical Center Inc proposes to develop a new hospital in Wilmington — UNC Health Wilmington Medical Center — with 150 acute care beds. The project is expected to cost $852.6 million and would be completed in July 2031.
North Carolina’s Certificate of Need
To be able to provide these services, the health care organizations must apply to the State of North Carolina for approval through the Certificate of Need (CON) process. The CON process is not unique to North Carolina, more than 30 states have some level of CON process. For an overview of North Carolina’s process please click on the button for the official State website.
According to the State website, “The North Carolina Certificate of Need (CON) Law requires health care providers to obtain a CON from the Department of Health and Human Services (Department) before developing or offering a “new institutional health service.”
Previous Conversations
I am pleased to share the podcasts I have had with the three healthcare organizations regarding their applications.
Atrium Health
Novant Health
UNC Health
Public Comment Period is Now Open - Public Hearing Scheduled
The public comment period for these and other applications is open through 5PM on July 31, 2026. All comments can be submitted to the following email address: DHSR.CON.Comments@dhhs.nc.gov.
A public hearing for this project will be held Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. in the meeting room of the Arboretum Education Center, 6206 Oleander Drive in Wilmington.