NATCHEZ — The Natchez Hospital Company is awaiting a staff recommendation from the Mississippi Department of Health to approve or disapprove its application to make millions of dollars in renovations to Natchez Regional Medical Center.

The company applied in December for certificates of need to reopen the cardiac catheterization lab at NRMC significant renovations and expansions of NRMC’s emergency room, labor and delivery suites and fourth floor patient areas. Natchez Hospital Company was  formed last fall when Natchez Community Hospital’s (NCH) parent company purchased Natchez Regional Medical Center (NRMC).

Certificates of need are a state mandated process intended to restrain health care costs and allow coordinated planning of new services and construction while reducing duplication of services. Hospital officials have said the renovations are necessary to consolidate the hospitals in a way that can effectively address the health care needs of the area. The application says the hospital plans for a $352,695 capital expenditure on the heart cath lab, while it will spend $10,547,694 on the building improvements.

The Natchez Hospital Company application was deemed complete Jan. 5

“We are pleased to have completed the application phase with the Mississippi Department of Health as indicated by the ‘deemed complete’ status,” said Eric Robinson, chief executive officer for NRMC and NCH. “We look forward to working with the state to complete the remaining steps of the certificate of need process and, if plans are approved, enhancing the healthcare services and resources we offer our community.”

Forty-five days after the application is received and deemed complete by the Mississippi State Department of Health, the MSDH’s analysis — including a recommendation to approve or disapprove the application — is published, which is followed by a 90-day review period. But 65 days after the application is received, the applicant can request or waive a hearing.

After the hearing — or if the hearing is waived — the application is forwarded to the State Health Officer to be placed on the next monthly certificate of need meeting.

The decision of the MSDH can be appealed in the Chancery Court within 20 days of its issuance.