The community of western North Carolina will have two public spaces in March to express concerns about Mission Hospital and the management of HCA Healthcare, the company that has managed the medical center since 2019.
The meetings will take place after federal authorities again placed the hospital in “immediate risk” status, the most severe sanction within the oversight system. Medicare and Medicaid.
The meetings will present the latest findings on compliance with the sales agreement and will provide a forum for patients, families, and healthcare workers to share their experiences. Representatives from HCA, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), and the state Attorney General's office will participate.
Main reference center
Mission Hospital is the primary referral center for serious emergencies and specialized care in the western part of the state.
What happens there impacts patients in Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, Waynesville, and other counties that depend on its services.
Related: Where to find free or low-cost health care in Western North Carolina?
A new federal warning
Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) again placed Mission Hospital in “immediate jeopardy” status.
This category applies when conditions are detected that could endanger the patient safety and which require urgent correction.
If the deficiencies are not addressed, the hospital could lose essential federal funding, including Medicare and Medicaid payments. This is the third time in two years that Mission has faced this designation.
What will be reviewed in March
The meetings are part of the oversight process of the agreement signed in 2019, when HCA bought the then non-profit Mission Health system for $1.500 billion.
The sessions will present the findings corresponding to the 2024 reporting year and explain how the 2025 evaluation is progressing.
The most recent report, published in July, noted persistent problems in areas such as emergency room care and cancer treatment.
In addition to the formal presentation, there will be a space for questions and comments from the public.
Dates, locations and how to participate in community sessions
The meetings open to the public will be held at the following locations:
- Monday, March 9, from 5:30 to 7 pm
Transylvania County Library
212 Gaston St., Brevard - Tuesday, March 10, from 5:30 to 7 pm
Western Carolina University, Biltmore Park Campus
28 Schenck Pkwy., Asheville
(This session will also be streamed online and recorded)
Advance registration via the independent monitor's website is recommended. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of each match.
Those who prefer to share their experience in a more private format can request an individual or small group meeting by writing to Mission@AffiliatedMonitors.com
Related: Nurses at Mission Hospital in Asheville will protest working conditions after patient death
How can the community participate?
Interested parties may submit questions or comments before the meetings to be shared with the facilitator and the entities present.
In addition, the Independent Supervisor will schedule individual and small group meetings during his March visit and another planned for May.
Who oversees HCA
The oversight is handled by Affiliated Monitors, Inc., a firm that acts as the independent supervisor of the sales agreement signed in 2019.
Its function is to assess whether HCA maintains the promised services, makes the agreed investments, and complies with the standards established in the sales contract.
Susan Mims, chief executive of Dogwood Health Trust—the foundation created after the sale—stated in a official statement that “the perspectives and comments shared by community members are essential to assessing whether HCA is complying with the purchase agreement.”
He also highlighted that the independent supervisor “listens to community members and connects them with useful information and resources.”
It is important to note that Dogwood Health Trust does not manage the hospital or regulate its daily operations. Its role is to hire the independent monitor and ensure that an annual compliance report is produced.
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Critical voices and political pressure
State Senator Julie Mayfield argued that the situation in Mission requires direct leadership from the parent company.
“We firmly believe that we need your leadership and support for a collaborative effort to improve the situation at the hospital,” he said, referring to the HCA CEO.
In addition, the group Reclaim Healthcare WNC has reported problems such as alleged staff shortages and deficiencies in medical discharge processes.
On the other hand, HCA has not yet responded immediately to public requests for comment on the recent federal designation of immediate risk.
>>> For more information about the hospital, visit missionhealh.org
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