The decision for Piedmont Medical Center to build a hospital in fast-growing Fort Mill was upheld Wednesday by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"This decision brings us a step closer to bringing the community a much-needed hospital," said Charlie Miller, PMC's president and chief executive officer. "We're ready to do that."

Presbyterian Healthcare's request for a reconsideration of the May 30 decision was shot down for failing to provide "good cause," or new information, that would merit a reversal, the agency wrote to the hospitals.

"We're disappointed, but we're not deterred," Presbyterian spokeswoman Kati Everett said. "We will continue our efforts to bring access to quality health service to the citizens of York County."

With the request denied, Presbyterian plans to request a final review by DHEC before appealing to the state Administrative Law Court in Columbia.

DHEC had until Wednesday to reconsider whether another hospital company should have been chosen over PMC to build York County's second hospital.

Presbyterian Healthcare filed the paperwork for a reconsideration a month ago, close to two weeks after PMC was chosen from four competing hospital companies who campaigned for more than a year for approval to build.

Presbyterian argues it has the backing of physicians and residents. DHEC received more than 4,000 letters supporting the Charlotte nonprofit, and the York County Medical Society endorsed Presbyterian.

Historically, DHEC has rarely reversed a hospital decision. Joel Grice, the DHEC official who picked PMC the first time, ruled on the reconsideration after getting input from others in the state agency.

Grice, who has worked at DHEC for 28 years, sees one or two reconsideration requests a year.

DHEC spokesman Thom Berry said Wednesday the agency would not comment on the reconsideration until the hospitals received their certified letters on the decision. The letters were expected to arrive today.

In its reconsideration request, Presbyterian said PMC has not abided by the terms of its contract with York County; the community is "disappointed and outraged" at the agency's decision and "failure" to give residents a choice in health care providers; and it is unfair to stipulate a 64-bed hospital during the application process, then identify PMC's ability to provide 100 beds as a basis for selection.

DHEC wrote in its decision that PMC was approved for its 100-bed and growth plans, regulation by the York County Council and commitment to the community.

The county has had a contract with PMC on certain issues such as pricing since 1979. PMC has been working to lower rates since 2003, when the hospital came under fire from patients and the York County Council for higher rates than other hospitals in the region.

Carolinas HealthCare System, another competitor to build the Fort Mill hospital, bypassed a reconsideration by DHEC and appealed to the Administrative Law Court, which hears cases affected by an action or proposed action of state agencies.

The fourth company, Charlotte-based Hospital Partners of America, decided not to appeal.

What's next?

Presbyterian Healthcare plans to file a request to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control for a final review of its case to build a Fort Mill hospital. The Charlotte hospital company has 15 days to file that request. The state agency then has 60 days to have a final review conference, which may be conducted by the DHEC board or a smaller committee of board members. DHEC can decide not to conduct a final review conference, making PMC's approval the agency's final decision. The case would then go to the Administrative Law Court in Columbia.

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