Battle over MD hospital could be decided soon

Two health-care giants have spent the past two years waging a costly and intense battle to win state approval to build a new hospital in northern Montgomery County, the county's fastest-growing region.

It would be the first new hospital in Maryland in 30 years. The state's health-care commission is scheduled to decide next month which project, if any, should proceed. The commissioner in charge of the review is expected to release a key recommendation as early as this week, officials said.