Mission Hospital in Asheville has received its third “immediate jeopardy” designation from CMS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in two years, following reports of patient deaths, a nurse assault, and a measles exposure. This time, CMS is requiring HCA Healthcare to hire an independent, CMS-approved safety consultant within 30 days to oversee hospital improvements.
State Sen. Julie Mayfield, a longtime critic of HCA’s management of Mission, says the hospital’s size and role as the region’s only trauma center make federal contract termination unlikely, but believes the new oversight requirement could finally force systemic safety changes. She continues to push for accountability and plans a news conference in Asheville on Feb. 9 to address ongoing concerns.