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State analyst rejects MWH's cancer center plan

A state analyst sees no need for a second cancer center at Mary Washington Hospital

Date published: 9/19/2009

BY JIM HALL

Mary Washington Hospital suffered a setback yesterday when a state Health Department analyst rejected as unneeded its plan for a new $11 million cancer center in Fredericksburg.

Len Varmette, project review analyst, said that the hospital's Cancer Center of Virginia on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County is not busy enough to justify building a second cancer center on the hospital campus.

Mary Washington's proposal "does not appear to be reasonable, and its arguments for approval appear to be unsupported by facts," Varmette wrote.

Varmette was in the Fredericksburg area last week to hold a public hearing on Mary Washington's plan. His report was published yesterday afternoon as part of the state review that's required of all major health care projects.

His recommendation is a reversal for the hospital, though not necessarily fatal to its plan. The "certificate of public need" process continues now with a "fact-finding" hearing next month in Richmond.

Dr. Karen Remley, state health commissioner, will make the final decision, perhaps early next year.

"We're disappointed," Philip Brown, the hospital's director of strategic planning, said yesterday. "We continue to believe that there's still a need for this project, but we obviously need to spend some more time with the report to better understand the reasons for their denial."

Mary Washington wants to expand its ability to treat cancer patients with radiation. The new cancer center would include a linear accelerator, a machine that delivers high-energy X-rays to cancerous tumors.

The center also would bring a new service to the region: stereotactic radiosurgery. The technique is used mainly to treat brain cancers.

Many of these patients go now to the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville for their treatments.

But the state report says that it's "premature" for Mary Washington to build a new cancer center, since its existing one does not meet the required utilization standards.

The state insists that a linear accelerator do at least 8,000 treatments a year before it will consider approving a new one. The two linear accelerators at the Cancer Center of Virginia did about 7,500 treatments each last year.

Mary Washington officials have argued that by the time the new center opens in 2011, the accelerators at the Cancer Center of Virginia will be busier and will meet the state standard.

But Varmette appears unmoved. The project "does not appear to be an efficient use of resources," he wrote.

The report also says that a new center at Mary Washington would hurt existing centers, including the Mid-Rivers Cancer Center in Montross and the new Culpeper Regional Hospital center, which opens next year.

Varmette did not mention Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center in his report, but its supporters opposed Mary Washington's plan at last week's public hearing.

If Mary Washington's proposal is approved, they said, there will be little need for radiation treatment services at their hospital when it opens next year.

"We're pleased that they remain consistent in their assessment," said Susan Salyer, spokeswoman for the new hospital.

The state rejected applications earlier this year for similar cancer services at Stafford Hospital Center and Spotsylvania Regional.

Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Email: jhall@freelancestar.com

Mary Washington Hospital is in the middle of a lengthy, mandated state review of its proposed cancer center. Why does the state care? If Mary Washington wants to spend $11 million on a cancer center, why would the state say no? The answer, according to the American Health Planning Association, is that health care is unlike other businesses. Thirty-six states require permits and limit entry into the market to "promote access, ensure quality and control costs," the association says. In this case, the state Health Department will insist that Mary Washington do a certain amount of charity care, that it have the funds needed to complete the project, and that its plan have a chance of financial success. It also will look to see whether there is unused capacity in the region. If there is, it won't allow new construction. -Jim Hall

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Date published: 9/19/2009