Opinion ID: 1432114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Issuance of Certificate of Need to HCA Health Services of Wyoming, Inc.

Text: On March 14, 1983, respondent HCA Health Services of Wyoming, Inc. (HCA) applied for a certificate of need to replace its 56-bed hospital in Riverton, Wyoming, with a 70-bed facility. Lander Valley, as the operator of another hospital in the same county as the proposed facility, received notice of the pending certificate of need. At informal public meetings conducted on two separate days in June, 1983, the Board heard comments from the applicant, from an expert in management systems for Lander Valley, and from members of the public. These meetings were recorded on tape and transcribed. At the conclusion of the second meeting, the Board voted to issue a certificate of need to HCA, notwithstanding the fact that the proposed hospital exceeded the number of beds recommended for the county in developed health plans. Following the Board's approval of the certificate of need for HCA, Lander Valley sought an administrative appeal in accordance with the Board's rules and regulations which afford a hearing to an entity aggrieved or adversely affected by a Board decision (Chapter XVI, § 1a, Rules and Regulations, New Institutional Health Services Act (Revised September, 1982). Lander Valley also petitioned the district court for judicial review of the issuance of the certificate of need to HCA. The Board granted Lander Valley's request for a hearing and an independent hearing officer was appointed by the Governor. The hearing officer subsequently questioned whether the regulations providing for administrative review exceeded the Board's authority under The New Institutional Health Services Act, supra. After considering memoranda submitted by the parties, the hearing officer ordered a stay of the administrative appeal pending judicial resolution of the question. The district court certified the case to this court pursuant to Rule 12.09, W.R.A.P., 1984 Cum. Supp.