| A rate increase hearing for Parkersburg's St. Josephs Hospital was held this week before the West Virginia Health Care Authority.
The request is for a 23 percent increase for inpatient charges and 16 percent increase on outpatient charges.
The increase is being contested by the state's consumer advocate and
Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital. This is the first time in history a competing hospital has opposed increases.
The hospital is citing higher costs from neurosurgeries using the latest technologies in defending its request.
A decision on the rate increase application isn't expected until after March. | 
