An Iowa health facilities board has given the green light to construction of a new, 72-bed psychiatric hospital in Bettendorf.
At its meeting Thursday night, the State Health Facilities Council approved a proposal from Tennessee-based Strategic Behavioral Health, or SBH, after denying the company's application twice before.
The council's program manager has said the board only grants a certificate of need if a proposed hospital is the least expensive, most efficient, option. The law also says research should show that other efforts have been made to provide the proposed services, such as modernization or sharing arrangements.
The council voted 4-1 in favor of the new psychiatric hospital.
Both hospital groups in the Quad Cities (Genesis and Unity Point Trinity) oppose the plan.