Athens-Limestone Hospital has filed a Certificate of Need application in an effort to expand and move its outpatient surgical services into a new $35.5 million facility.

The announcement of the request was released Thursday by the state Health Planning and Development Agency. The application was submitted by the Health Care Authority of Athens and Limestone County, doing business as Athens-Limestone Hospital.

News of the announcement comes a day after the Limestone County Commission discussed plans to reduce funding to the hospital over the next two years, then stop allocations completely by 2018.

The News Courier contacted officials at Huntsville Hospital Thursday in an effort to find out how Athens-Limestone Hospital will be affected, and how the shortfall in funding would be reconciled.

“We have been working with the Athens-Limestone Hospital’s Board throughout these discussions,” said David Spillers, CEO of Huntsville Hospital Health System. “Our relationship with Athens-Limestone Hospital is important. Together, we will explore ways to compensate for the loss of revenue.”

About the facility

According to the application, the hospital plans to move its outpatient surgical services to a new “multi-specialty off campus medical office building” that will contain four one-day surgical suites and two multipurpose, which can be utilized for surgical or procedural cases.

The hospital also seeks to relocate and expand support services for imagery, pharmacy and laboratory services to the new medical office building, described as “11,600 square feet of physician office space for hospital employed physicians.”

Athens City Planner Mac Martin said he had not received site plans or drawings associated with the project, and did not know where the hospital intends to build the new facility.

Those who wish to submit written statements regarding the proposal, or who wish to appear before the Certificate of Need Board, must do so on or before July 31. A copy of statements must also be provided to attorney Joe Campbell at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz, 201 Sivley Road, Suite 2, Huntsville, AL 35801.