The National Capital Medical Center proposal is still on the table, but support is fragmenting and there’s talk of taking a look at plans for health care facilities on the former site of D.C. General Hospital.
Rumors are swirling that the current plan is on the ropes and that a new task force of health care experts will be commissioned to study alternatives to the hospital, a planned $400 million, 250-bed facility that Mayor Anthony Williams’ administration agreed to build in partnership with Howard University.
Most of the D.C. Council is in the dark and demanding information.
The mayor is expected to answer questions today during his weekly press briefing.
“What we need to do is have health professionals and medical professionals at the table looking at what’s best for us,” said Council Member David Catania, chairman of the health committee.
Sharon Baskerville, executive director of the DC Primary Care Association, said she’s heard through “deep back channels” that she would be appointed to a task force. As she understands it, the group would be looking at Level 1 trauma facilities and ambulatory care centers east of the Anacostia.
Meanwhile, council members — who have the hospital legislation before them — want to know what’s going on.
“I need to know what’s happening,” said Council Chairman Linda Cropp. “That would be nice.”
Ward 7 Council Member Vincent Gray said the ups and downs of the hospital plan have left him puzzled and frustrated.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Gray said. “It’s like, ‘How many times can they pull the football out from under Charlie Brown?’ ”
At a glance
Current plan for the National Capital Medical Center:
» District and Howard University to split construction costs 50/50
» District would pay for site preparation
» District would lease land to Howard at $1 a year for 99 years
