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Health Facilities Review Committee greenlights contentious Newbridge certificate of need

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — After more than an hour of debate, Newbridge Retirement Community’s request for a new 94-bed assisted living community was approved by the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee (MHFRC) Monday. 

The certificate of need application was passed in a 4-3 vote. Proponents had argued there was a need for the facility in Cape Girardeau while opponents contended there are plenty of beds available in a 15-mile radius. Operators from other facilities also told the committee there are nursing and employee shortages. 

The facility will include 46 assisted living apartments along with 12 second person accommodations for couples, according to its application. It will also include 36 special care units designed for people who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia.  

The MHFRC approved Mari de Villa’s request for a 20-bed assisted living facility. The already-existing senior living center in Town and Country proposed establishing two semi-private and four private studios along with 12 private resident rooms. 

Mari de Villa also requested a certificate of need to renovate the senior living center. The committee approved the request to renovate and modernize but denied its application for an additional 19 beds since the center has several already unused. 

The committee approved the certificate of need application for Homestead at Hickory View in Washington which sought to renovate 30 independent living units for assisted living, creating 32 beds. The facility said it already had about two dozen residents who would immediately benefit from the project and could remain at Homestead. 

The application was approved in a 6-1 vote. 

Additionally, the MHFRC approved the certificate of need application from Springhouse Village in Rogersville to establish a 20-bed assisted living facility in addition to an already-approved 85-bed assisted living facility.

The committee also approved an application from Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph to replace a cardiac catheterization lab equipment. Its current imaging equipment is 10 years old and “nearing end-of-life,” the application said. It said it performs about 350-450 procedures per month using its three catheterization labs. 

Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s request for a robotic surgery system was also approved by the committee. The MHFRC approved St. Luke Hospital’s request to replace an MRI machine and Lenoir Health Care Center’s purchase of 24 skilled nursing facility beds. 

Additionally, the MHFRC granted a six-month extension for Shelbourne Senior Living’s senior housing community. It requested an extension after the project came back about $8 million over budget earlier this year. The company changed general contractors, and an architect is completing a redesign of the project. 

Rep. Jack Bondon, who sits on the committee, said Shelbourne has agreed to forfeit its certificate of need if the six-month extension is not enough.