A HEARING FOR A CERTIFICATE OF NEED IS BEING HELD TODAY IN NASHVILLE FOR A PROPOSED FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT THAT WELLMONT HEALTH SYSTEM HOPES TO BUILD IN BOONES CREEK. THE STATE’S HEALTH SERVICES DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WILL MAKE ITS RULING AFTER HEARING ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE PROJECT. THE HEALTH SERVICES 10 MEMBER BOARD WILL CONSIDER NEED, ECONOMIC FEASABILITY, AND CONSTRIBUTION TO THE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF ADEQUATE AND EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION. WELLMONT REPRESENTATIVES HAVE ARGUED WASHINGTON COUNTIANS NEED ANOTHER CHOICE IN EMERGENCY CARE, BUT MOUNTAIN STATES HEALTH ALLIANCE REPRESENTATIVES CONTEND THE PROJECT WOULD JACK UP HEALTH CARE COSTS BY DUPLICATING SERVICES AND ENCOURAGING THE USE OF EMERGENCY CARE WHEN LESS EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVES MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE.