AT A HEARING IN NASHVILLE ON WEDNESDAY, TENNESSEE’S STATE HEALTH SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY VOTED TO DENY WELLMONT HEALTH SYSTEM’S REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF NEED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH PLANS TO BUILD A STAND-ALONE $43 MILLION EMERGENCY ROOM, DIAGNOSTIC CENTER, AND MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING IN THE BOONES CREEK AREA OF JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE. WELLMONT REPRESENTATIVES ARGUED AT THE HEARING THAT WASHINGTON COUNTIANS NEEDED ANOTHER CHOICE IN EMERGENCY CARE. MEANWHILE, A RELEASE FROM COMPETITOR HEALTH SYSTEM, MOUNTAIN STATES HEALTH ALLIANCE SAID THE RULING HELPS ENSURE THAT THIS FREESTANDING E-D MODEL WILL NOT BE BUILT BETWEEN TWO LEVELS ONE TRAUMA CENTERS, INCREASING HEALTHCARE COSTS, AND CREATING A CLINICAL RISK FOR SERIOUS PATIENTS NEEDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.