MILLS RIVER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Fletcher Hospital Inc. and the Henderson County Hospital Corporation have filed certificate of need applications with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to expand medical faculties at two Mills River care sites.

Fletcher has filed a $16 million application for the development of 19 additional acute care beds for AdventHealth Hendersonville, following a need determined by the 2026 State Medical Facilities Plan.

If approved, the projected would be completed by May 2030.

Additionally, Fletcher and the HCHC have each applied for one fixed MRI scanner at AdventHealth Hendersonville and Pardee Imaging and Diagnostic Center, respectively.

The Fletcher MRI project would cost $7.8 million and would be completed in October 2028.

The HCHC MRI project would cost $10.8 million and would be completed in April 2028.

Both MRI scanners were requested after a need determination in the 2026 State Medical Facilities Plan.

The certificate of need applications will undergo public hearing next month.

The acute care bed hearing will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in the Kaplan Auditorium of the Henderson County Public Library – Main Campus, 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville, N.C.

The MRI hearings will be held at 11 a.m. later that morning in the same location.

The NCDHHS will accept written comments about the proposals until 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.

Comments should either be sent as an email attachment to nhsr.con.comments@dhhs.nc.gov or mailed to:

Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section
Division of Health Service Regulation
2704 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2704