Two groups that lost bids to build Fort Mill's first hospital have until the close of business today to file an appeal with S.C. regulators.

Novant Health, which runs Presbyterian Hospital, and Tenet Healthcare Corp., which runs Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill, can file for a review with the board of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Tenet and Novant lost to Carolinas HealthCare System, which learned Sept. 9 it won the bid to build a 64-bed hospital serving northern York County. DHEC officials said the application was the most compliant, and also noted that CHS' large market share would make it a challenge for any other hospital to thrive financially.

Groups have been competing since 2004 to build a hospital in fast-growing northern York County. The applications had to go through South Carolina's "certificate of need" process, a state regulation to determine how much and what kind of health care is needed in a region, and who gets to build.

There was no word of any appeal as of Friday afternoon, according to a spokesman for DHEC. A spokeswoman for Tenet didn't return an email.

A spokeswoman for Novant - which has hospitals in Charlotte, Matthews and Huntersville, and plans for one in Mint Hill - said the group will discuss its decision today.

CHS had maintained in its application that more than 105,000 patients from York County use its physician offices. The health care giant also has hospitals in Charlotte, Concord, Pineville, University City, Lincolnton, Kings Mountain and Shelby.

Applicants have 15 calendar days from the date of the decision to file an appeal. Since the 15th day was Saturday, the time is extended to the next non-weekend day, according to DHEC.

Sides could also appeal to an administrative law court if the board refuses to hear the case again - or if the board does hear the case, and issues a ruling parties don't like.