Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s plan to put a hospital in Olive Branch has received a favorable analysis from the Mississippi State Department of Health in the second go-around.

The reversal is the result of Mississippi changing the criteria by which it awards certificates of need (CON) for hospitals. The state health department released the staff analysis today.

Methodist Le Bonheur intends to spend $90.8 million to construct and equip the hospital. The hospital is expected to employ 480 people.

“Clearly, the staff of the Mississippi State Department of Health agreed that our application to build a new hospital in Olive Branch was complete and the criteria they set forth in the state health plan were met,” said David Baytos, a senior vice president with Methodist Le Bonheur. “We hope that this recommendation that our CON be granted will send a clear signal to all that a hospital is needed so that we can move forward with this most important initiative for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.”

The plans call for a four-story hospital with 100 beds at the southeast intersection of U.S. 78 and Bethel Road (Hacks Cross Road). It will have six operating rooms and a full range of support services.

Methodist last year withdrew a CON application for the hospital after it received an unfavorable staff analysis from the state health department. Methodist then tried to bypass the traditional CON process by going directly to the Mississippi Legislature for permission to build the hospital.

 That attempt failed, but Mississippi revised its state health plan. The changes made allowances for areas such as Olive Branch with fast-growing populations. The state also changed the formula for assessing patient bed needs according to geographic areas.