An Illinois regulatory board approved Quincy (Ill.) Medical Group's ASC April 30, after QMG appealed its initial rejection, the Quincy Herald-Whig reports.
What you should know:
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted 5-2 to approve QMG's $20 million surgery center.
The board approved QMG's proposal despite the following objections:
- QMG did not meet the state's 45-day cash on hand requirement
- QMG did not improve access to services, nor would it solve an overutilization issue, as the only healthcare facilities in the area, Quincy-based Blessing Health System's hospital and ASC, are both underutilized.
- QMG's surgery center would unnecessarily duplicate services in Quincy and would cause Blessing's two facilities to lose a combined 10,650 hours of surgery, negatively affecting their bottom line.
QMG Board Chairman Todd Petty said, "Today is a huge day for healthcare in Quincy. Our doctors are excited about the possibilities this new surgery center will bring."
The surgery center is no longer the only project QMG has planned for its space in the mall. QMG is building a cancer center on the site as well, local news affiliate KHQA reports.