Cost to reopen N.O. hospital: $170 million

• By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
• Published: Dec 26, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — A report says it could cost $170 million to reopen a hospital closed since Hurricane Katrina.

Methodist Hospital had 300 beds in August 2005. The plan prepared for the nonprofit Methodist Health System Foundation by PricewaterhouseCoopers consulting firm calls for reopening it with 80 beds.

The city’s health director, Kevin Stephens, says the hospital is needed because it takes at least 30 minutes to get from eastern New Orleans to the nearest hospital.