Health Care Authority decision allows UHA to build new Urgent Care

Denies Mon General’s requests

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia Health Care Authority (HCA) has reaffirmed its longstanding position that the West Virginia University Medical Corporation, which does business as University Health Associates (UHA), is a private physician group practice and not subject to Certificate of Need (CON) review.

The HCA once again rejected requests by Monongalia General Hospital that would have delayed UHA from building and relocating WVU Urgent Care to the Suncrest Towne Centre.

“We are very pleased with the Health Care Authority’s decision, because it means we’ll be better able to serve our patients,” Judie Charlton, M.D., chief medical officer for UHA, said. “The Authority’s view of our status as a private practice of physicians is clear.”

In July, Mon General had asked the HCA to reconsider earlier rulings that UHA was exempt from CON. Then in September and again in October, Mon General asked for the HCA to stay, or delay, its decision on reconsideration, until resolution of a lawsuit the hospital had filed against UHA seeking volumes of private corporation information.

“In denying Mon General’s requests, the Authority’s ruling reiterated that UHA is a private corporation, owned and controlled by physicians, with our own Board of Directors, not controlled by any hospital or other entity,” Dr. Charlton said. “We intend to begin work and break ground on the new WVU Urgent Care soon.”      

WVU Urgent Care, located behind Applebee’s on Van Voorhis Road in Morgantown, opened in September 2007 and averages more than 55 patient visits daily with upwards of 75 patients treated daily during peak times, such as winter months and flu season. WVU Urgent Care provides a complete range of medical treatment for minor illness and injury.

In 2011, WVU Urgent Care became the first and only urgent care facility in West Virginia to be designated as a Certified Urgent Care by the Urgent Care Association of America.