Universal Sues Oregon Health Authority Over Certificate Of Need Delay

On June 23, 2017, NEWCO Oregon (NEWCO) Inc., a behavioral health subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) sued the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) over a 13-month delay in the OHA’s response to NEWCO’s certificate of need (CON) application. NEWCO had submitted a CON on January 5, 2016 to build a 100-bed inpatient behavioral health facility in Wilsonville, in the greater Portland area.

NEWCO proposed building the Willamette Valley Behavioral Health facility to serve people with private insurance or Medicare. The facility was slated to provide behavioral health treatment and short-term inpatient and outpatient services . . .