93-000956CON St. Mary&Apos;S Hospital, Inc. vs. Good Samaritan Hospital, Inc., D/B/A Good Samaritan Hospital And Agency For Health Care Administration Status: Closed Recommended Order on Wednesday, November 2, 1994.

Summary: Referrring resolution for earlier broader certificate of need accepted; capital costs allocated by inpatient/outpatient; failure to support volumes/feasibility.

STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, INC., )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 93-0956

)

STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY FOR HEALTH )

CARE ADMINISTRATION and GOOD )

SAMARITAN HOSPITAL, INC., )

)

Respondents. )

_____________________________________)

PALM BEACH GARDENS COMMUNITY )

HOSPITAL, INC., d/b/a PALM BEACH )

GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 93-0957

)

STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY FOR HEALTH )

CARE ADMINISTRATION, )

)

Respondent. )

_____________________________________)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

These consolidated cases were heard by Eleanor M. Hunter, the designated

Hearing Officer for the Division of Administrative Hearings, from October 18-22,

November 30 - December 2, and December 22-23, 1993, in Tallahassee, Florida.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner, W. David Watkins, Attorney

St. Mary's Kenneth F. Hoffman, Attorney

Hospital, Inc.: Christopher Bryant, Attorney

OERTEL, HOFFMAN, FERNANDEZ & COLE

2700 Blair Stone Road

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

For Respondent, Robert Griffin, Attorney

Agency For Edward Labrador, Attorney

Health Care Agency for Health Care Administration

Administration: 325 John Knox Road, Suite 301

Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4131

For Respondent, Jon Moyle, Attorney

Good Samaritan Ronald Kolins, Attorney

Hospital, Inc.: Thomas Sheehan, Attorney

MOYLE, FLANIGAN, KATZ, FITZGERALD

& SHEEHAN, P.A.

Post Office Box 3888

West Palm Beach, Florida 33402

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

Whether the application for a certificate of need, filed by Good Samaritan

Hospital, Inc., to establish an adult inpatient cardiac catheterization program

in District IX meets the statutory and rule criteria for approval.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

The Agency For Health Care Administration ("AHCA") preliminarily approved

the certificate of need ("CON") application, subsequently numbered 7086, for

Good Samaritan Hospital, Inc. ("Good Samaritan") to provide adult inpatient

cardiac catheterization services in Palm Beach County in District IX. St.

Mary's Hospital, Inc. ("St. Mary's) and Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital,

Inc., d/b/a Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center ("Palm Beach Gardens"), are

existing providers of the same service in the same district and challenged the

Agency's preliminary agency action. By notice dated September 27, 1994, St.

Mary's voluntarily dismissed its petition in Case No. 93-0956. St. Mary's

counsel, in a telephone conference call, represented that the dismissal resulted

from certain hospital mergers.

Although it is stipulated that the numeric need methodology results in a

need for two additional adult inpatient cardiac catheterization ("cath")

programs, Palm Beach Gardens asserts that the program proposed by Good Samaritan

is not needed, will not achieve the projected utilization in excess of 300

procedures by the end of the second year, and will not be financially feasible.

Palm Beach Gardens disputes Good Samaritan's claim that the project will not

require any capital expenditures, and questions the completeness of the

application.

Good Samaritan presented the testimony of William J. Byron, expert in

hospital administration and operations; Bruce H. Berman, M.D., expert in family

medicine and geriatrics; Chauncey Crandall, M.D., expert in invasive cardiology;

James Vanek, M.D., expert in internal medicine; Thomas F. Raymond, M.D., expert

in cardiology; Joyce Cleva, R.N., expert in nursing services, nursing services

administration and cardiology services administration; David E. Musgrave, Jr.,

expert in hospital financial operations; Ronald T. Luke, Ph.D., JD., expert in

health planning, health economics and health policy analysis; and Hugh W. Long,

expert in health care economics and finance. Good Samaritan submitted exhibits

1 - 56, all of which were received in evidence, except exhibit 10 (which was

marked, identified, but not moved into evidence) and exhibit 51 (which was not

received) and exhibits 4, 6, 25, 26, 29 and 39 (on which ruling was reserved for

resolution in this recommended order).

St. Mary's presented the testimony of Jay Midwall, M.D., expert in invasive

cardiology; Gerald Humphreys, M.D., expert in cardiology; James Whittle, M.D.,

expert in invasive cardiology; Julia Bower Brown, expert in health care

planning; Jay Cushman, expert in health care planning; and Edward Pershing,

expert in health care finance. St. Mary's exhibits 1 - 10 were received in

evidence.

Palm Beach Gardens presented the testimony of Rick Knapp, expert in health

care finance. Palm Beach Gardens' exhibits 1 and 2 were received in evidence.

AHCA presented the testimony of Robert Maguire, expert in the

administration of CON programs and reviews. AHCA's exhibits 1 - 3 were received

in evidence.

The transcript of the final hearing was received by the Division of

Administrative Hearings on January 18, 1994. Proposed recommended orders were

filed on February 14, 1994.

The legal issues concerning the admissibility of some of Good Samaritan's

exhibits have been briefed in the proposed recommended orders. Exhibits 4 and 6

are interim drafts of new state and local health plans. Exhibit 25 is an

organizational chart for the existing outpatient cardiac cath lab at Good

Samaritan, with the names of staff and their titles included. Similarly,

exhibit 26 is a listing of primary and back-up staff, titles, dates of

employment, and salaries or sources of salaries, if derived from a different

department of the hospital. The objections to the staffing exhibits were based

on an increase of staff over that listed in the application from 5 to 5.2 full-

time equivalent (FTE) positions, a shift in health care professionals in certain

positions, and on training relationships established between Duke University

doctors, entered into subsequent to the filing of the Good Samaritan

application. Exhibit 39 is a pro forma prepared on an incremental basis in

contrast to a pro forma in the application that appears to be prepared on a

fully allocated cost basis.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Good Samaritan Hospital, Inc. d/b/a Good Samaritan Medical Center

("Good Samaritan") is a 341 bed not-for-profit community hospital in West Palm

Beach, established over 73 years ago. West Palm Beach is located in Agency for

Health Care Administration ("AHCA") District 9. Its services include obstetrics

and neonatal, medical and pediatric intensive care. Good Samaritan also opened

an outpatient cardiac catheterization ("cath") laboratory of 1399 gross square

feet, approximately two weeks prior to the start of the final hearing in this

case. The establishment of an outpatient laboratory does not require a

certificate of need. At the time the final hearing commenced, two procedures

had been performed in the Good Samaritan outpatient cath lab. Written protocals

exist for transfers to facilities with open heart surgery programs. Here, Good

Samaritan is an applicant for a certificate of need ("CON") to provide adult

inpatient cardiac cath services in the same cath lab.

2. AHCA is the state agency which administers CON laws in Florida. AHCA

published, on August 7, 1992, a fixed need pool showing a net need for two

additional cardiac cath programs in AHCA District 9. On January 11, 1993, AHCA

issued a State Agency Action Report ("SAAR") preliminarily approving Good

Samaritan's CON.

3. St. Mary's Hospital, Inc. ("St. Mary's") is a 430 bed hospital with

acute care, psychiatric, and Levels II and III neonatal intensive care beds,

located in West Palm Beach, Florida in AHCA District 9. St. Mary's is located 3

miles, or a 5 to 7 minute drive from Good Samaritan, and is an existing provider

of adult inpatient cardiac cath services. Open heart surgery services are not

available at St. Mary's.

4. Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital, Inc. ("Palm Beach Gardens") also

in AHCA District 9, is located approximately a 25 minute drive from St. Mary's.

Palm Beach Gardens' services include adult inpatient cardiac cath in a two room

laboratory, and open heart surgery.

5. There are eleven cath labs in District 9. Palm Beach Regional,

Lawnwood in St. Lucie County, and a doctor in Martin County operate outpatient

facilities. Five hospitals serve inpatients and outpatients - Boca Raton, St.

Mary's, Martin Memorial, Bethesda, and Indian River. Three others, Palm Beach

Gardens, JFK Medical Center and Delray Community Hospital, have cardiac cath

labs at hospitals which also provide open heart surgery services.

6. By prehearing stipulation, the parties agreed that the historical

quality of care at Good Samaritan is not at issue.

7. Palm Beach Gardens asserts that Good Samaritan's application was

incomplete.

Application Content

8. Submitted with the Good Samaritan application was a certificate of the

custodian of its records which relied on an April 20, 1989 resolution of Good

Samaritan's Board of Directors as authorization for the filing of ". . . an

application as described in the Letter of Intent."

9. On August 25, 1989, Good Samaritan filed a letter of intent, with the

Board's April 20, 1989 resolution, announcing its intent to apply on September

27, 1989, to establish inpatient cardiac cath and open heart surgery services,

and to convert ten medical/surgical beds to intensive care beds for an estimated

capital cost of $4,950,000. The 1989 resolution has not been withdrawn.

10. The President of Good Samaritan, William J. Byron, testified that Good

Samaritan never filed a joint application for cardiac cath, open heart surgery

and intensive care beds, as described in the 1989 letter of intent. Good

Samaritan also, he testified, never filed an application for cardiac cath

services in 1989, but did file cardiac cath applications in 1990, and 1991 and

the one at issue, in 1992.

11. In February 1991, Good Samaritan's Board passed a resolution

authorizing the filing of a CON application for inpatient cardiac cath services.

Mr. Byron considered that resolution a reaffirmation of the 1989 resolution and

decided to file the 1989 resolution with this application.

12. The predecessor of AHCA initially notified Good Samaritan that the

1989 letter of intent for combined services was rejected. Subsequently, in

November 1989, Good Samaritan was notified that the initial rejection applied to

open heart surgery, because these were competing applicants, but that it would

extend a grace period to apply for cardiac cath services to October 27, 1989,

due to the absence of any competing applicants. What was intended in the letter

which postdated the date it gave for the grace period was not established.

13. Mr. Byron testified that Good Samaritan filed the February 1990

application, referencing the 1989 resolution, in accordance with the agency's

grant of a grace period.

Need For the Subject Project

14. In August 1992, AHCA published its finding that a numeric need exists

for two additional adult inpatient cardiac cath programs in District 9, by July

1995.

15. The 1990-1991 local health plan for District 9 includes two factors

for determining need and for allocating CONs for cardiac cath and open heart

surgery services.

16. The first District 9 factor favors facilities with an historical

record of or commitment to serving Medicaid and indigent, handicapped or other

underserved population groups. Good Samaritan's service to Medicaid patients

increased from .2 percent in 1985 to 1.1 percent in 1989, then from 5.0 percent

in 1990 to 11.2 percent of total admissions in 1992. Mr. Jay Cushman testified

that the Medicaid commitment and record may be evaluated by comparing Good

Samaritan to St. Mary's because they share a medical service area. Medicaid

admissions to St. Mary's were 7.7 percent in 1985, 17.5 percent in 1989, 19.7

percent in 1990, and 32.0 percent in 1992. Therefore, as Mr. Cushman observed,

the widening gap in the same service area is not indicative of Good Samaritan's

historical record or present commitment to serve Medicaid patients.

17. The District 9 plan also gives priority to applicants who propose to

establish inpatient cardiac cath and open heart surgery services at the same

facility when both are needed. The preference is inapplicable to the review of

this application cycle, because no need was published for additional open heart

surgery services in the district. There was testimony that Good Samaritan was,

at the time of hearing, an applicant for an open heart surgery CON, having

applied in March 1993, and had been preliminarily denied. The preference

statement that an applicant "would not be expected to have to apply for both"

describes the situation at the time of Good Samaritan's application. Therefore,

the preference neither supports nor detracts from this application.

18. The 1989 State Health Plan contains a similar preference for an

applicant proposing both cardiac cath and open heart surgery services in

response to a publication of the need for both. To have any practical effect in

a comparative review process, avoiding speculation on the outcome of other

pending administrative cases, the preference has to be understood to favor an

applicant for cardiac cath and open heart surgery over an applicant for only

cardiac cath in the same batching cycle. Therefore, the preference is

inapplicable to this application for cardiac cath services, despite evidence of

an open heart surgery application in a subsequent batching cycle.

19. The state preference for the establishment of a new cardiac cath

program in a county without such programs is not met. See, Findings of Fact 5.

20. The state plan preference for disproportionate share charity care and

Medicaid providers does not support approval of the Good Samaritan application.

See, Finding of Facts 16, supra.

21. The state preference for hospitals which accept patients regardless of

ability to pay is met by Good Samaritan.

22. On balance, there is no showing of the need for Good Samaritan's

proposal to advance the special interests identified in the state and District 9

health plans.

23. Good Samaritan argues that its inpatients should have access to its

new, state-of-the-art cath lab to avoid costs and disruptions associated with

unnecessary transfers. The argument is rejected as inconsistent with the

regulatory scheme and need criteria established by statutes and rules.

Testifying about AHCA's preliminary approval of Good Samaritan's application,

Good Samaritan's expert, Ronald Luke, Ph.D., described the objective as

improving access to care for the underserved, meaning uninsured, because ". . .

there is no question - - no question - - that there is sufficient physical

capacity in the market to perform the projected number of caths . . ."

Transcript, Vol. 9, p. 1154.

24. At hearing, David Musgrave, Good Samaritan's financial officer, and

Dr. Luke asserted that Good Samaritan would perform caths on 100 more indigents

than originally represented in the application. The application projected 3

percent indigent and 2 percent Medicaid payer categories. In the pro forma

marked as exhibit 39, Good Samaritan projected 2.7 percent indigent care. There

is no credible evidence to demonstrate that Good Samaritan can recruit an

additional 100 indigent cardiac cath patients, through contacts with public

health agencies.

Utilization Projections

25. Two major issues in dispute, which partially depend on the accuracy of

utilization projections, are the requirements of Rule 59C-1.032(8)(b) that an

applicant reasonably project 300 cath lab visits within two years of operation,

and the long-term financial feasibility of the proposal.

26. According to Dr. Luke, the 300 minimum annual procedures for a cath

lab and 150 for invasive cardiologists who perform caths are standards set by

the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Guidelines for

Cardiac Catherization and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories. The standards

are set to insure that sufficient numbers of procedures are performed to

maintain staff and cardiologists' proficiency.

27. Good Samaritan's application includes projections of 270 caths in year

one and 360 in year two. Initially, a minimum of 119 caths is reasonably

expected, based on that number of inpatients transferred in 1992 from Good

Samaritan for cath inpatient procedures at other hospitals.

28. The experts for Good Samaritan compare its proposal to the operations

of the cath lab at Boca Raton Community Hospital ("Boca Raton"), which has no

open heart surgery services and a closed in-house cathing staff. A "closed

staff" limits those who perform cath lab procedures to invasive cardiologists

based at the facility. After opening in October 1987, Boca Raton has had the

following number of cath procedures performed at its hospital:

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

621 658 644 530 487

29. Like Boca Raton, Good Samaritan also proposes to have a closed lab.

It will be headed by a hospital-employed physician. An agreement with the

medical school at Duke University will allow the staff cathing physician to

maintain the necessary personal clinical skills by performing sufficient numbers

of additional procedures at Duke.

30. Good Samaritan shares its medical staff and medical service area with

St. Mary's. St. Mary's experts project that Good Samaritan would be another low

volume provider in the area, primarily due to the lack of back-up open heart

surgery services. Volumes of cath procedures reported at St. Mary's, which

opened in February 1988, are as follows:

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

229 292 323 381 359

31. St. Mary's has an open cathing staff. Its lab is used by a number of

different invasive cardiologists, who also practice primarily at other hospitals

which have open heart surgery services available.

32. Palm Beach Gardens also has an open cardiac cath staff, although a

number of the cathing physicians are based at the hospital. However, Palm Beach

Gardens also has open heart surgery services. It's volumes from 1988-1992 were

as follows:

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

1598 1392 1587 1824 1750

33. Clearly, both the presence or absence of open heart surgery and the

internal operations of a lab affect the volumes of procedures performed at any

cardiac cath lab. The greater weight of the evidence suggests that the presence

of open heart surgery is more determinative of cath lab utilization than the

internal operations of the cath lab.

34. Despite evidence of increasing use rates in District 9, Good Samaritan

has failed to demonstrate that its projected utilization is reasonable. All of

the growth in volume in Palm Beach County in 1992 is attributable to JFK Medical

Center and Delray Community Hospital, both of which have open heart surgery and

to Bethesda, with a new program in 1992 and 249 procedures. Declines in volume

occurred at both mature inpatient programs without open heart surgery in Palm

Beach County, St. Mary's and Boca Raton. The suggestion that 1992 is an

aberration in this regard, is rejected. See, Findings of Facts 28 and 30.

Impact On Existing Providers

35. The highest reasonable expectation of volumes for St. Mary's cath lab

in 1993 is 330 visits. From October 1, 1991 through September 30, 1992, Good

Samaritan transferred 13 to 14 inpatients to St. Mary's for cardiac caths.

Subsequently, in December 1992, a group of internists sold their practices to

Good Samaritan. The patient volume of that group, one internist estimated, will

result in the referral of 150 to 200 patients for cardiac caths over the next

year or two. Based on their staff affiliations, it is reasonable to expect that

a significant number of their referrals will be diverted from St. Mary's.

36. One doctor in a group of invasive cardiologists, which has performed

approximately 150 cardiac caths a year at St. Mary's, expects 75 to 90 of the

cases would have been done at a Good Samaritan inpatient lab, if that

alternative had existed. It is reasonable to expect that an inpatient cardiac

cath program at Good Samaritan will result in a loss of up to 80 visits to the

St. Mary's cath lab in 1995 and 1996. As a result, the St. Mary's program would

be below 300 procedures (visits) a year minimum quality of care standard, with

no assurance that Good Samaritan could exceed the standard.

37. Good Samaritan describes the financial impact on St. Mary's of an

inpatient cath lab as relatively insignificant, because the more detrimental

impact will occur as a result of the already established outpatient lab. Good

Samaritan estimates, however, that 70 percent of its cardiac cath patients will

be inpatient and 30 percent will be outpatients. St. Mary's financial loss

would be $188,000 if Good Samaritan reaches 480 procedures, according to Good

Samaritan's expert.

38. Good Samaritan concedes that St. Mary's is at risk of performing less

than 300 procedures and, therefore, that the quality of care in the St. Mary's

cath lab would decline. However, as Good Samaritan notes the decrease in

volumes below 300 may occur whether or not Good Samaritan's proposal is

approved. Cardiac cath volumes are declining at mature inpatient programs which

do not have open heart surgery services. The establishment of a program at Good

Samaritan would accelerate that trend at St. Mary's. See, Finding of Facts 33.

39. When Good Samaritan's cardiac cath volumes reach 240 visits, Palm

Beach Gardens expects to lose 44 cardiac cath visits and $134,000 pre-tax

revenue in Good Samaritan's second and third year of operation. If, as

projected by Good Samaritan, its volumes reached 480 visits, a loss of 88

cardiac caths or approximately $250,000 to $270,000 is projected.

40. Good Samaritan contends that a loss of $250,000 to $270,000 pre-taxes

for Palm Beach Gardens is relatively insubstantial. After taxes, the loss is

$80,000 when Good Samaritan reaches 240 cases, or $160,000 if Good Samaritan

reaches 480 cases. Revenues at Palm Beach Gardens, in 1992, were approximately

$8 million pre-taxes, or $5 to $6 million after taxes. Good Samaritan's

contention that the loss to Palm Beach Gardens is relatively insubstantial is

supported by the evidence in this case.

Financial Feasibility

41. Good Samaritan has already constructed an outpatient cardiac cath lab,

which is adequately staffed and capable of serving inpatients of the facility.

The immediate financial feasibility of the proposal has been established.

42. The long term financial feasibility of the program has been

questioned. The pro forma attached to the application showed a loss of $126,008

in year one, a loss of $26,967 in year two and a gain of $113,224 in year three

of operations. Good Samaritan was required to include a two year pro forma in

its application. In fact, Palm Beach Gardens' expert believes that

profitability must be demonstrated in the second year to establish financial

feasibility. Good Samaritan's projections are based on the assumption that case

volumes will be 240 cases in 1994, 360 in 1995 and 480 in 1996. The assumption

that Good Samaritan can reach 360 procedures in year two, while St. Mary's

remains over 300 procedures is rejected. In addition, Good Samaritan's pro

forma is prepared as Good Samaritan acknowledges, on a fully allocated cost

basis which cannot demonstrate financial feasibility.

43. Good Samaritan's exhibit 39 was described as a sensitivity analysis,

and is also based on only slight changes in utilization assumptions caused by

rounding to whole numbers. Unlike the pro forma submitted with the application,

exhibit 39 clearly is an incremental analysis. Good Samaritan failed to provide

AHCA adequate evidence of financial feasibility based on the pro forma included

in the application. Palm Beach Gardens asserts that consideration of exhibit 39

constitutes an impermissible, untimely amendment to the application which may

not be relied upon to establish financial feasibility.

44. Mr. Musgrave, an expert in hospital financial operations, acknowledged

that the information in exhibit 39 was available at the time he prepared the

application pro forma. Comparing the two, he testified that among the

differences are the use of different data bases, a higher Medicare case weight,

a lower managed care discount rate, higher gross charges per admission, and

lower indigent care percentages.

45. Good Samaritan also failed to account for certain capital costs. Good

Samaritan claims that the project has no capital costs. The State Agency Action

Report determined that the $5,000 filing fee is a capital cost. At hearing,

there was expert testimony that expenses and equipment required to implement

video-conferencing and other direct contacts with Duke University will result in

additional costs which have not been adequately considered in Good Samaritan's

financial analysis.

46. Mr. Musgrave also testified that 70 percent of the cardiac cath volume

is expected to be derived from inpatients, with capital cost reimbursements from

Medicare and Medicaid. When asked about Good Samaritan's claim that there are

no or minimal capital costs associated with the proposal, Robert P. Maquire of

AHCA testified as follows:

With regard to outpatient services that are

approved by non-reviewability criteria, if

later a project is established as an inpatient

program and does not require any new construction,

those costs - - there's no allocation of costs to

the inpatient factor.

Transcript, Vol. VIII, p. 1041.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

47. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over the

parties and subject matter in this cause pursuant to subsections 120.57(1) and

408.039(5), Florida Statutes. 1/

48. Good Samaritan, as the applicant, has the ultimate burden of

persuasion to demonstrate its entitlement to the certificate of need. Boca

Raton Artificial Kidney Center, Inc. v. HRS, 475 So.2d 260 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985);

Florida Department of Transportation v. J.W.C., Inc., 396 So.2d 788, 789 (Fla.

1st DCA 1981).

49. Good Samaritan's application refers to a resolution of its governing

board which, in 1989, was the basis for letter of encompassing a project of

significantly greater scope and almost $5 million in capital costs. The

inpatient cardiac cath proposal is within the scope of the project authorized by

the letter of intent but was not filed on the date specified in the letter of

intent. Subsequent action taken by the board has reaffirmed that portion of the

1989 proposal. Good Samaritan argues that the statutory requirements for the

resolution are not, as are the purposes of subsections 408.039(2)(c) and

408.037(4), by assuring that the correct corporate entity has, prior to filing,

fully committed to funding, building and operating the project proposed.

Further, Good Samaritan notes that its case is distinguishable from cases

dismissing or upholding the dismissal of CON applications because of faulty

corporate resolutions, e.g.: (a) the resolution was not adopted by the

governing body of the applicant itself, see, Humhosco, Inc., d/b/a Humana

Hospital Brandon v. Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 561 So.2d

388; (b) the applicant did not hold the license to the facilities and was

therefore unable to effectuate the project, Brookwood-Jackson County

Convalescent Center v. HRS, 591 So. 1085; (c) the resolution was ineffective

because it was not approved by the applicant's parent as required by the

applicant's bylaws, Naples Community Hospital v. AHCA, 15 F.A.L.R. 2615; or (d)

the resolution did not reflect that the applicant would accomplish, license and

operate the facility, University Community Hospital, Inc. v. HRS, 13 F.A.L.R.

2362. In Naples Community Hospital, supra., the agency head noted that the rule

requires each applicant's certification to contain a statement that its

resolution is "still in full force" and does not "in any manner contravene" its

articles of incorporation or bylaws, Rule 59C-1.008(1)(e)(2), F.A.C., citing

Humhosco, Inc. v. HRS, 561 So.2d 388, 391 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990). Good Samaritan's

resolution and its Board's subsequent reaffirmation of support for any inpatient

cardiac cath program at or below the costs specified are consistent with AHCA's

interpretation of its rules. The application is not incomplete.

50. On balance, Good Samaritan has not demonstrated that its proposal will

meet needs identified in the state and local health plans, as required by

subsection 408.035(1)(a).

51. Good Samaritan has also failed reasonably to project sufficient

utilization to meet the volume requirements necessary to assure quality of care

and to meet the requirements of Rule 59C-1.032(8)(b), Florida Administrative

Code.

52. Due to its failure to support the utilization projections in the

application pro forma or in exhibit 39, and the failure to consider all of the

capital costs associated with the establishment of the inpatient cardiac cath

service, Good Samaritan failed to establish the financial feasibility of its

proposal.

53. Although not dispositive of this case, AHCA failed to explicate a

dichotomy in the position taken in this case and that announced during the

pendency of this proceeding. In Sacred Heart Hospital v. AHCA, DOAH Case NO.

92-1508 (F.O. 10/22/92), the agency stated that:

. . .it would be illogical from an accounting

and health planning perspective to assume that

Petitioner's proposal is without cost simply

because additional equipment and space would

not be required to initiate inpatient service.

The Sacred Heart case concerned AHCA's jurisdiction to review the initiation of

inpatient radiation services after the establishment of outpatient services.

The explicit references in the agency's order to accounting and health planning

issues over and above jurisdictional concerns, apply to Good Samaritan's factual

situation and compel the conclusion that capital costs were also understated by

the failure to allocate any portion of the total to inpatients. See, Findings

of Fact 46.

54. Good Samaritan's exhibits 4 and 6, the interim health plans, are not

received based on relevance. Good Samaritan's exhibits 25 and 26 are received

in evidence and considered. The actual staffing plan which resulted from the

opening of the outpatient lab, and the Duke University agreement are events

subsequent to the filing of the application not known to the applicant at the

time the application was filed.

55. Section 59C-1.010(2)(b), Florida Administrative Code, provides that:

Subsequent to an application being deemed complete

by the agency, no further application information

or amendment will be accepted by the agency.

The court in Manor Care, Inc. v. DHRS, 558 So.2d 26, 29 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989),

stated that, "as to matters within an applicant's control significant changes to

an application are not permitted." In Charter Medical-Orange County, Inc. vs.

DHRS, (DOAH Case No. 87-4748), Appendix 2, the hearing officer concludes that:

The concept of "control" of the applicant over

the information that goes into the original appli-

cation is the only phrase that gives applicants

any guidance. The word "control" probably is

intended as a "knew or reasonably should have

known" standard. If the applicant reasonably

should have known about the information and should

have provided the Department with the information

as a part of its original application, then the

new information cannot be considered during the

formal administrative hearing.

Using the test of "control" in light of the testimony that the data could have

been generated to provide exhibit 39 to AHCA for its review at the time the

application was submitted, exhibit 39 constitutes an impermissible amendment and

cannot be the basis for approval of Good Samaritan's application.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is

RECOMMENDED that an order be entered denying the application of Good

Samaritan Hospital, Inc. for Certificate of Need 7086 to establish an adult

inpatient cardiac catheterization program.

DONE AND ENTERED this 2nd day of November, 1994, in Tallahassee, Leon

County, Florida.

___________________________________

ELEANOR M. HUNTER

Hearing Officer

Division of Administrative Hearings

The DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550

[phone]

Filed with the Clerk of the

Division of Administrative Hearings

this 2nd day of November, 1994.

ENDNOTE

1/ St. Mary's entered a voluntary dismissal on September 27, 1994. The

foregoing findings of fact include a determination that the established program

at Palm Beach Gardens will not be substantially affected by the proposed Good

Samaritan project. The issues in the case are resolved on the merits,

consistent with Home Builders and Contractors Association of Brevard, Inc. v.

Department of Community Affairs, 585 So.2d 965 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).

APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER, CASE NO. 93-956

To comply with the requirements of Section 120.59(2), Fla. Stat. (1991),

the following rulings are made on the parties' proposed findings of fact:

Good Samaritan's Proposed Findings of Fact

1-2. Accepted in Finding of Fact 1.

3. Accepted in Findings of Fact 3 and 4.

4. Accepted in Findings of Fact 2 and 14.

5. Subordinate to Finding of Fact 1.

6. Accepted in Finding of Fact 2.

7. Accepted in Finding of Fact 8.

8. Accepted in Findings of Fact 8 - 13.

9. Accepted in Finding of Fact 17.

10-11. Accepted in Finding of Fact 34.

12. Rejected first sentence in Findings of Fact 34 and 35.

Rejected second sentence in Finding of Fact 24.

Accepted remainder in Finding of Fact 29.

13. Rejected in part in Findings of Fact 34 - 35,

Accepted in part in Finding of Fact 35.

14-16. Rejected in Findings of Fact 34 - 35.

17. Accepted as not clearly shown in Finding of Fact 43.

18-20. Rejected conclusions in Findings of Facts 42-44.

21-25. Accepted in preliminary statement and conclusions

of law 54.

26-28. Accepted in Findings of Fact 37, 38, 39 and 40.

29. Rejected first and last sentences in Findings of Fact

35, 36 and 38. Accepted second sentence in Findings of

Fact 35 and 38. Rejected third sentence in Finding of

Fact 33. Accepted fourth and fifth sentences in

Finding of Fact 31.

30. Accepted as specified in Finding of Fact 16.

31. Accepted as specified in Finding of Fact 24.

32. Rejected as not demonstrated to be effective in

Finding of Fact 24.

33-34. Accepted in or subordinate to Finding of Fact 21.

35-37. Accepted in or subordinate to Finding of Fact 23.

Palm Beach Gardens Proposed Findings of Fact

1-3. Accepted.

4. Accepted in Findings of Fact 1, 2, 3 and 4.

5. Accepted in Findings of Fact 3 and 4.

6. Accepted in or subordinate to Findings of Fact 3 and 4.

7. Accepted in preliminary statement and Finding of Fact 1.

8 Accepted in Finding of Fact 2.

9. Accepted in preliminary statement and subordinate to

Findings of Fact 3 and 4.

10(a). Accepted in Findings of Fact 3 and 4.

10(b). Accepted in conclusions of law 47.

11. Rejected in conclusions of law 49.

12-13. Accepted in Findings of Fact 8 and 9.

14. Accepted in Finding of Fact 10.

15-16. Accepted in Findings of Fact 8 and 9.

17. Accepted in Finding of Fact 11.

18-19. Accepted in Finding of Fact 9.

20. Rejected in Finding of Fact 40.

21. Accepted in Finding of Fact 39.

22. Accepted in Finding of Fact 37.

23-39. Accepted in or subordinate to Findings of Fact 39

and 40.

40-41. Accepted in Finding of Fact 42.

42-51. Issues not reached.

52. Accepted in Finding of Fact 45.

53. Issue not reached.

54. Accepted in Finding of Fact 42.

55. Accepted in Finding of Fact 43.

56. Accepted in Finding of Fact 42.

57. Accepted in Finding of Fact 43.

58-64. Issue not reached.

65. Accepted in Finding of Fact 42.

66. Issue not reached.

67. Accepted in Finding of Fact 44.

68-83. Accepted in or subordinate to Findings of Fact 42,

43, and 44.

84-92. Issue not reached.

93. Accepted in Finding of Fact 45.

94. Rejected on ability to fulfill commitment in Finding of

Fact 24.

95. Issue not reached.

96. Accepted in Findings of Fact 34, 42 and 43.

AHCA's Proposed Findings of Fact

1. Accepted in Finding of Fact 1

2. Accepted in Finding of Fact 2.

3. Issue not reached as not finalized at hearing.

4. Accepted in preliminary statement and Findings of Fact

29 and 45.

5. Accepted as subordinate to Finding of Fact 1.

6. Accepted in Finding of Fact 29.

7. Accepted in Findings of Fact 14 and 34.

8. Rejected in Finding of Fact 34.

9. Rejected in Findings of Fact 16 and 17.

10. Accepted first two sentences in Finding of Fact 21.

Rejected in Findings of Fact 18 - 21.

11. Accepted third and last sentences in Findings of Fact

23 and 27. Rejected remainder in Finding of Fact 22

and conclusions of law.

12. Accepted in Finding of Fact 41.

13. Rejected in Findings of Fact 16 and 24.

14-20. Accepted in or subordinate to Findings of Fact 1

or 23.

21. Rejected in Finding of Fact 22.

22. Accepted in Finding of Fact 34.

23-25. Rejected in Findings of Fact 38 and 42.

26. Rejected conclusion in Findings of Fact 24 and 34.

27. Rejected conclusion in Findings of Fact 34, 38 and 41.

28. Rejected in conclusions of law 53.

29. Accepted in part in Finding of Fact 23.

30. Accepted in Finding of Fact 26 except last sentence

31. Accepted in Finding of Fact 29.

Due to the withdrawal of St. Mary's as a party, no rulings are made on St.

Mary's proposed recommended findings of fact.

COPIES FURNISHED:

W. David Watkins, Attorney

Kenneth F. Hoffman, Attorney

Christopher Bryant, Attorney

OERTEL, HOFFMAN, FERNANDEZ & COLE

2700 Blair Stone Road

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

Robert Griffin, Attorney

Edward Labrador, Attorney

Agency for Health Care

Administration

325 John Knox Road, Suite 301

Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4131

Jon Moyle, Attorney

Ronald Kolins, Attorney

Thomas A. Sheehan, III, Esquire

MOYLE, FLANIGAN, KATZ,

FITZGERALD & SHEEHAN, P.A.

Post Office Box 3888

West Palm Beach, Florida 33402

R. S. Power, Agency Clerk

Agency for Health Care Administration

Atrium Building, Suite 301

325 John Knox Road

Tallahassee, Florida 32303

Harold D. Lewis, Esquire

The Atrium, Suite 301

325 John Knox Road

Tallahassee, Florida 32303

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

All parties have the right to submit written exceptions to this recommended

order. All agencies allow each party at least ten days in which to submit

written exceptions. Some agencies allow a larger period within which to submit

written exceptions. You should contact the agency that will issue the final

order in this case concerning agency rules on the deadline for filing exceptions

to this recommended order. Any exceptions to this recommended order should be

filed with the agency that will issue the final order in this case.

=================================================================

AGENCY FINAL ORDER

=================================================================

STATE OF FLORIDA

AAGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, INC. AND

PALM BEACH GARDENS COMMUNITY

HOSPITAL, INC. d/b/a PALM CASE NO.: 93-0956

BEACH GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER, 93-0957

CON NO.: 708

Petitioner, RENDITION NO.: AHCA-95-73-FOF-CON

vs.

STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY FOR

HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

ANDGOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL,

INC.,

Respondent.

_____________________________/

FINAL ORDER

This cause came on before me for the purpose of issuing a final agency

order. The Hearing Officer assigned by the Division of Administrative Hearings

(DOAH) in the above-styled case submitted a Recommended Order to the Agency for

Health Care Administration (AHCA). The Recommended Order entered November 2,

1994, by Hearing Officer Eleanor M. Hunter is incorporated by reference.

RULING ON EXCEPTIONS

FILED BY GOOD SAMARITAN

In this consolidated proceeding, St. Mary's Hospital (St Mary's) and Palm

Beach Gardens Medical Center (Palm Beach Gardens) filed petitions challenging

the agency's initial approval of CON 7086 to Good Samaritan Hospital. After a

ten day evidentiary hearing the Hearing Officer issued a Recommended Order and

recommended that a CON be denied. Subsequent to the hearing, but before the

Recommended Order was issued one of the Petitioners, St. Mary's, withdrew its

challenge to the initial decision.

Good Samaritan's position in its exceptions is that the other Petitioner,

Palm Beach Gardens, lacks standing and St. Mary's having withdrawn its

challenge, the initial approval should become the final decision by operation of

law. Assuming for the moment that Palm Beach Gardens lacks standing, it would

not be sound public policy to disregard the evidence received at the hearing and

the recommendation of the Hearing Officer. 1/ I conclude that the agency would

not be required to disregard the results of the hearing. Wiregrass Ranch vs.

Saddlebrook, 19 FLW s414 (Fla. 1994).

Regarding standing, Palm Beach Gardens is an existing hospital in the same

district offering the service proposed by Good Samaritan. At the volume

projected by Good Samaritan, Palm Beach Gardens will lose revenues of

approximately $250,000.00 per year. Total revenues at Palm Beach Gardens in

1992 were approximately $8,000,000.00--a ratio of 1/32. The agency has

previously held that standing should be liberally construed and that a facility

seeking party status in a certificate of need proceeding need not prove that its

solvency is threatened to be entitled to party status under Section

408.039(5)(b), Florida Statutes. Paracelsus vs. Agency for Health Care

Administration, 16 FALR 2708 (AHCA 1994). I conclude that Palm Beach Gardens

established standing in this proceeding.

Good Samaritan excepts in whole or in part to findings of fact stated in

paragraphs 16, 22, 23, 24, 28 through 34, 35, 36, 38, 50, and 51. The

challenged findings are supported by competent, substantial evidence; therefore,

the exceptions are denied.

Good Samaritan maintains that in paragraphs 42, 43, and 52 the Hearing

Officer has concluded as a matter of law that a proposal's financial feasibility

can not be presented via a "fully allocated cost basis" Such a conclusion would

be incorrect, but here the Hearing Officer has only found as a fact that Good

Samaritan's presentation via a "fully allocated cost basis" did not show its

proposal to be financially feasible. In other words, Good Samaritan failed to

prove financial feasibility not because of its mode of presentation, but because

other evidence impeached the credibility of its utilization projections. See

the findings in paragraphs 30 through 34. The exception is denied.

Good Samaritan's exception to paragraph 45 is granted only as to the

finding that Good Samaritan failed to account for the CON filing fee as a

capital cost; the other findings in paragraph 45 are supported by competent,

substantial evidence. The agency does not consider the filing fee to be a

capital expenditure for purposes of CON review.

Good Samaritan excepts to the Hearing Officer's conclusion in paragraph 53

that its capital costs were understated because there was no allocation of

capital costs of the previously established outpatient program to the proposed

inpatient program. For purposes of CON review it is not the agency's policy not

to require such allocation when no addition capital expenditures are required to

initiate an inpatient service at an established and unreviewable outpatient

program. In reviewing such an application the issue is whether the applicant

can fund the proposal. Furthermore, the addition of an inpatient program to an

established and under utilized outpatient program, where need is otherwise

established, is consistent with one of the goals of CON regulation which is to

minimize duplication of health care resources. The exception is granted.

Good Samaritan excepts to the Hearing Officer's ruling that its exhibits 4

and 6, the interim health plans, were irrelevant and therefore inadmissible. I

find no abuse of discretion by the Hearing Officer; therefore, the exception is

denied.

Finally, Good Samaritan excepts to the rulings of the Hearing Officer

rejecting or modifying certain proposed findings of fact. At this level of

review the agency cannot serve as a trier of fact. If additional fact finding

is required, remand to the Division of Administrative Hearings is required.

Friends of Children vs. Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 504

So2d 1345 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987). I find no error in the challenged rulings. The

exceptions are denied.

RULING ON EXCEPTIONS

FILED BY PALM BEACH GARDENS

Palm Beach Gardens excepts to the Hearing Officer's characterization as

"relatively insubstantial" the anticipated effect on Palm Beach Gardens should

Good Samaritan's proposal be approved. To the extent that the Hearing Officer

implicitly found Palm Beach Gardens lacks standing in this proceeding, the

finding is rejected for the reasons stated in the ruling on Good Samaritan's

exceptions.

Palm Beach Gardens maintains that Good Samaritan's corporate resolution is

legally deficient. Palm Beach Gardens relies on Rule 59C-1.008(1)(a)2 which

requires a letter of intent to identify the planning horizon to be addressed by

CON application. By its plain language the cited rule imposes requirements for

a letter of intent. The corporate resolution satisfies applicable rule and

statutory requirements. The exception is denied.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The agency hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the findings of fact

set forth In the Recommended Order except as modified by the ruling on the

exceptions.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

The agency hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the conclusions of

law set forth in the Recommended Order except as modified by the ruling on the

exceptions.

Based upon the foregoing, it is

ADJUDGED, that the application of Good Samaritan Hospital, Incorporated,

for certificate of need number 7086 be DENIED.

DONE and ORDERED this 13th day of January, 1995, in Tallahassee, Florida.

_____________________________

Douglas M. Cook, Director

Agency for Health Care

Administration

ENDNOTE

1/ A Section 120.57 proceeding gives the agency a chance to change its mind

based on the record developed at the hearing. Boca Raton Artificial Kidney

Center vs. Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 475 So2d 260 (Fla.

1st DCA 1985)

A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO A JUDICIAL

REVIEW WHICH SHALL BE INSTITUTED BY FILING ONE COPY OF A NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH

THE AGENCY CLERK OF AHCA, AND A SECOND COPY ALONG WITH FILING FEE AS PRESCRIBED

BY LAW, WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE

AGENCY MAINTAINS ITS HEADQUARTERS OR WHERE A PARTY RESIDES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS

SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FLORIDA APPELLATE RULES. THE NOTICE

OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED.

COPIES FURNISHED:

W. David Watkins, Esquire

OERTEL, HOFFMAN, FERNANDEZ

& COLE, P. A.

Post Office Box 6507

Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6507

Jon Moyle, Esquire

Ronald Kolins, Esquire

Thomas Sheehan, Esquire

MOYLE, FLANIGAN, KATZ,

FITZGERALD & SHEEHAN, P. A.

Post Office Box 3888

West Palm Beach, Florida 33402

Eleanor M. Hunter

Hearing Officer

The DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550

Samuel Dean Bunton, Esquire

Senior Attorney, Agency for

Health Care Administration

325 John Knox Road

Atrium Building, Suite 301

Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4131

Elizabeth Dudek (AHCA/CON)

Alberta Granger (AHCA/CON)

Elfie Stamm (AHCA/CON)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been

furnished to the above named addresses by U.S. Mail this 17th day of January,

1995.

_____________________________

R. S. Power, Agency Clerk

State of Florida, Agency for

Health Care Administration

325 John Knox Road

The Atrium Building, Suite 301

Tallahassee, Florida 32303

[phone]

=================================================================

ORDER CORRECTING AGENCY FINAL ORDER

=================================================================

STATE OF FLORIDA

AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, INC. AND

PALM BEACH GARDENS COMMUNITY

HOSPITAL, INC. d/b/a PALM BEACH CASE NO.: 93-0956

GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER, 93-0957

CON NO.: 7086

Petitioners,

vs.

STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY FOR

HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL, INC.,

Respondents.

____________________________________/

ORDER CORRECTING FINAL ORDER

Two scrivener's errors have been noted in the Final Order rendered January

13, 1995, Rendition Number AHCA-95-73-FOF-CON. The errors are found in the

second sentence of the first complete paragraph on pace 4 of the Final Order.

The corrections are made by changing the first use of the word "not" to "now",

and by adding the suffix, "al", to the word "addition". As corrected the

sentence reads as follows:

For purposes of CON review it is now the agency's

policy to not require such allocation when no

additional capital expenditures are required to

initiate an inpatient service at an established

and unreviewable outpatient program. (Emphasis

added where corrections are made)

The agency's official reporter is authorized to make the corrections noted

above and publish the Final Order of January 13, 1995, as corrected.

DONE and ORDERED this 21st day of January, 1995,in Tallahassee, Florida.

_________________________

Douglas M. Cook, Director

Agency for Health Care

Administration

A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO A JUDICIAL

REVIEW WHICH SHALL BE INSTITUTED BY FILING ONE COPY OF A NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH

THE AGENCY CLERK OF AHCA, AND A SECOND COPY ALONG WITH FILING FEE AS PRESCRIBED

BY LAW, WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE

AGENCY MAINTAINS ITS HEADQUARTERS OR WHERE A PARTY RESIDES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS

SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FLORIDA APPELLATE RULES. THE NOTICE

OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED.

COPIES FURNISHED:

W. David Watkins, Esquire

OERTEL, HOFFMAN, FERNANDEZ

& COLE, P. A.

Post Office Box 6507

Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6507

Jon Moyle, Esquire

Ronald Kolins, Esquire

Thomas Sheehan, Esquire

MOYLE, FLANIGAN, KATZ,

FITZGERALD & SHEEHAN, P. A.

Post Office Box 3888

West Palm Beach, Florida 33402

Eleanor M. Hunter

Hearing Officer

DOAH, DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550

Samuel Dean Bunton, Esquire

Senior Attorney, Agency for

Health Care Administration

325 John Knox Road

Atrium Building, Suite 301

Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4131

Elizabeth Dudek (AHCA/CON)

Alberta Granger (AHCA/CON)

Elfie Stamm (AHCA/CON)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been

furnished to the above named addresses by U. S. Mail this 24th day of January,

1995.

______________________________

R. S. Power, Agency Clerk

State of Florida, Agency for

Health Care Administration

325 John Knox Road

The Atrium Building, Suite 301

Tallahassee, Florida 32303

[phone]