Hoover Health Care Authority: ambulatory surgery center certificate of need secured; operator selection due by Nov. 3

Alan Paquette, chairman of the Hoover Health Care Authority, updated the City Council on the authority’s Riverwalk ambulatory surgery center effort, saying the authority received a certificate of need (CON) and is actively seeking an operator to meet a state deadline.

Paquette said the CON was awarded on Nov. 4, 2024, with a stipulation that the authority submit a project modification naming an operator by Nov. 3, 2025. He told council members that an initial RFP process did not yield a preferred operator, so the authority has worked with the site’s landlord, CR Endeavors, to arrange interviews; the board interviewed two operators and a third sought an audience as the board was meeting.

“We're confident that this November 3 deadline date will easily be met,” Paquette said, describing ongoing interviews and paperwork the board expects to submit before the deadline. He added the board met with CR Endeavors about the site master lease and that the developer had provided a cleaned‑up draft to review; Paquette said he did not know whether any lease changes would require city ratification and that the board would follow any applicable requirements.

Why this matters: the CON allows the authority to proceed with an ambulatory surgery center at Riverwalk if it secures an operator and meets the CON board’s conditions. Paquette described the center as an ambulatory surgery model that industry leaders recommended as the prevailing model for outpatient procedures.

Council questions and staff responses A council member asked whether the master lease would return to council for ratification; Paquette said he did not know but that if ratification was required, the authority would comply. Council members also asked whether there was a rush to finalize documents; Paquette explained the state had a moratorium on surgery centers that made timely submission important to preserve the CON eligibility.

Next steps and timeline Paquette said the authority planned to continue operator interviews in October and finalize paperwork in time to submit a project modification to the CON board by Nov. 3, 2025. He offered to answer follow‑up questions from council members and indicated the authority would coordinate with city staff and the landlord on lease language.

Ending Council members thanked Paquette for the update. No formal council action was taken at the meeting; the item was informational and the health care authority will return with required documentation if needed.