The application for construction of a new ambulatory surgery center, scheduled to go before the state for review today, might be withdrawn.

Dr. August Ritter III, one of the partners investing in the proposed Mississippi Valley Surgery Center, said the partners were considering withdrawing their application for the center.

"That hasn't happened yet," he said Saturday. "It's something we've considered.

Ritter wouldn't elaborate on why he and his partners are having second thoughts.

"Things in the rules have changed since we applied, and that's given us cause to reconsider, at least, the application," he said.

The state's Health Facilities Review Committee is scheduled to review the certificate of need application for the center in a hearing today in Jefferson City.

A group of at least 19 Cape Girardeau surgeons of varying specialties teamed up to invest in the $5.6 million surgery center.

Dr. William Kapp III, an orthopedic surgeon, signed the application for the certificate of need.

The surgery center would offer a variety of outpatient surgical services. Investors say it would mean lower medical costs for consumers, because surgery centers operate with lower overhead costs than full-service hospitals.

Investors also say it would make Cape Girardeau more competitive in the health care market because of lower prices.

The boards of both St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital have gone on the record opposing the construction of the new surgery center. The hospitals are in the midst of merger talks.

Ritter and his partners say there is a need for another 6.6 operating rooms in the region, based on the population of the service area and the number of operating rooms in existing free-standing surgery centers -- nine operating rooms at three surgery centers, plus an additional two coming into the market with the recently approved Silver Springs Surgery Center LLC.

The proposed center would have six operating rooms.

But James Wente, administrator of Southeast Missouri Hospital, and James Sexton, president and chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center, argue that Ritter and his partners didn't figure the number of operating rooms at the two hospitals -- 12 at St. Francis and 14 at Southeast.

Wente and Sexton say the proposed center will take away procedures from their facilities. Kapp and Ritter say there is plenty of business to go around, because many consumers are going to St. Louis for outpatient surgery to take advantage of lower costs.

The state hearing will determine if there is a need in the region for another ambulatory surgery center.