Plans to build the new hospital in Tehachapi in phases have been nixed after proposed affiliation partner Adventist Health said it would pay $25 million to lease a completed facility.

Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District board member Mike Nixon says a state review of the phased blueprints could have pushed the hospital deeper into the red.

“If we continue with the idea of phasing and get that approved, then decide the next day that we’d want to go with the full build-out, then it would cost us about $3 million or $4 million,” he said.

The shortfall is currently $23 million. The final price tag is expected near $90 million.

– Anthony Pollreisz