No movement on funding for new Woman’s Hospital construction

Construction of a new Woman’s Hospital campus remains on hold, even though the bond market is starting to improve somewhat. The $350 million project at Airline Highway and Pecue Lane was halted because of high interest rates, and remains stalled in part because of uncertainties in Medicaid funding. Officials are reviewing plans in advance of a January board meeting; a hospital spokeswoman said today that while alternative financing has been considered, the bond market is still the most likely funding source. On Tuesday, North Oaks Medical Center said its Hammond facility expansion got new life through a $99 million bond issuance, after having been put on hold in December.—David Jacobs