This proceeding initially involved certificate of need (CON) application number 10168 filed by Rockledge HMA, LLC, d/b/a Wuesthoff Medical Center -- Rockledge (Wuesthoff), wherein Wuesthoff sought to add a 14-bed Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) unit to its existing acute care hospital in Brevard County (District 7); and CON number 10169 filed by Osceola Regional Hospital, d/b/a Osceola Regional Medical Center (Osceola) wherein Osceola sought to add a 28-bed CMR unit to its existing acute care hospital in Osceola County (District 7). The CON Applications submitted by Wuesthoff and Osceola were comparatively reviewed with the application of Nemours Children’s Hospital (CON 10167) wherein Nemours sought to establish a new inpatient CMR unit in District 7. On December 7, 2012, the Agency for Health Care Administration (“AHCA”) preliminarily approved the CON application submitted by Nemours and denied all other co-batched applications. Each of the denied applicants filed a Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing to contest the denial of its application. The matters were consolidated into a single proceeding at DOAH. The denied applicants did not challenge the initial approval by AHCA of Nemours’ application, allowing the approval to stand without further proceedings. Wuesthoff and Osceola’s administrative proceedings were consolidated into a single case. At the final hearing, Wuesthoff and Osceola presented evidence and testimony to support the approval of their respective CON applications. An intervenor, HealthSouth of Sea Pines Limited Partnership, d/b/a HealthSouth of Sea Pines Rehabilitation Hospital (HealthSouth), presented evidence in opposition to the Wuesthoff CON application. HealthSouth did not oppose Osceola’s application. Subsequent to the final hearing, Wuesthoff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of its petition for formal administrative hearing. The voluntary dismissal rendered HealthSouth’s intervention moot. Wuesthoff’s proceeding was then severed from this previously consolidated matter. The issue remaining in this matter is whether the CON application filed by Osceola in AHCA District 7 satisfies, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule review criteria sufficiently to warrant approval and, if so, whether the application should be approved.Petitioner did not establish "not normal" circumstances warranting approval of a certificate of need for comprehensive medical rehabilitation beds.

This proceeding concerns Heart of Florida’s Certificate of Need (CON) Application No. 10163 in which it seeks to add up to 14 Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) beds to its existing acute care hospital in Polk County (District 6), and Highlands Regional’s CON Application No. 10165 seeking to add up to seven CMR beds to its existing acute care hospital located in Highlands County (District 6). The CON Applications submitted by Heart of Florida and Highlands Regional were comparatively reviewed with the following co-batched applications to establish new inpatient CMR units in District 6: HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Polk County, LLC (CON #10162), and Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Inc. (CON #10164). On December 7, 2012, the Agency for Health Care Administration (“AHCA”) preliminarily approved CON Application No. 10164, submitted by Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Inc., and denied all other co-batched applications. Each of the denied applicants filed a Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing to contest the denial of its application. The matters were consolidated into a single proceeding at DOAH. However, the files on Lakeland Regional and HealthSouth Rehabilitation were closed as of April 8, 2013, when the present Petitioners withdrew their opposition to approval of CON 10164 and HealthSouth voluntarily dismissed its petition for formal hearing. The issues remaining in this matter are whether the CON applications filed by Heart of Florida and Highlands Regional in Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA or the Agency) District 6, satisfy, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule review criteria sufficiently to warrant approval and, if so, whether either or both of the applications should be approved.Neither Petitioner proved by a preponderance of evidence the existence of circumstances warranting approval of their CON applications.

This proceeding concerns Heart of Florida’s Certificate of Need (CON) Application No. 10163 in which it seeks to add up to 14 Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) beds to its existing acute care hospital in Polk County (District 6), and Highlands Regional’s CON Application No. 10165 seeking to add up to seven CMR beds to its existing acute care hospital located in Highlands County (District 6). The CON Applications submitted by Heart of Florida and Highlands Regional were comparatively reviewed with the following co-batched applications to establish new inpatient CMR units in District 6: HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Polk County, LLC (CON #10162), and Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Inc. (CON #10164). On December 7, 2012, the Agency for Health Care Administration (“AHCA”) preliminarily approved CON Application No. 10164, submitted by Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Inc., and denied all other co-batched applications. Each of the denied applicants filed a Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing to contest the denial of its application. The matters were consolidated into a single proceeding at DOAH. However, the files on Lakeland Regional and HealthSouth Rehabilitation were closed as of April 8, 2013, when the present Petitioners withdrew their opposition to approval of CON 10164 and HealthSouth voluntarily dismissed its petition for formal hearing. The issues remaining in this matter are whether the CON applications filed by Heart of Florida and Highlands Regional in Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA or the Agency) District 6, satisfy, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule review criteria sufficiently to warrant approval and, if so, whether either or both of the applications should be approved.Neither Petitioner proved by a preponderance of evidence the existence of circumstances warranting approval of their CON applications.

Whether Certificate of Need (CON) Application No. 10130, filed by Florida Regional Medical Center (FRMC) for an 80-bed acute-care hospital in Palm Beach County, Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) health planning district 9, sub-district 9-4, satisfies, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule criteria.Applicant failed to demonstrate need for its proposed hospital; evidence submitted did not satisfy, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule criteria; needs of research and educational facilities are no longer considered in CON review.

Whether Certificate of Need (CON) Application No. 10130, filed by Florida Regional Medical Center (FRMC) for an 80-bed acute-care hospital in Palm Beach County, Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) health planning district 9, sub-district 9-4, satisfies, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule criteria.Applicant failed to demonstrate need for its proposed hospital; evidence submitted did not satisfy, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule criteria; needs of research and educational facilities are no longer considered in CON review.

Whether Certificate of Need (CON) Application No. 10125, filed by Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Inc. (Shands Jacksonville) to establish a new, 100-bed acute care hospital (Shands North) in Duval County, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA or Agency) acute care subdistrict 4-1, satisfies, on balance, the applicable statutory and rule review criteria.Applicant failed to demonstrate need for its proposed 100-bed satellite hospital.