Nursing home reps vie for space

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Local nursing home representatives and those competing to build nursing homes in New Hanover County had five minutes a piece to persuade decision-makers as to why they deserve space for more residents.

Five of those are already operating in the county.

The businesses are all vying for a certificate of need, granted by the state. One-hundred-thirty “beds” have been allocated to New Hanover County, creating space for 130 more residents.

The spaces can be granted to one facility, or split up among several applicants.

A panel from the state’s Department of Human resources has the final say-so.

Doug Suddreth with the Autumn Corporation said, “Once the hearing is over, then at the end of this period the agency will issue a finding and after that finding, anyone who feels that they were aggrieved has 31 days to appeal.”

The entire process takes about six months. A final decision should be down by the end of the year.