By Peter Lewis, Asheville Watchdog
Since being acquired by the enormous for-profit hospital chain HCA Healthcare, Mission Well being and its Mission Hospital flagship have develop into the most costly hospital system in North Carolina for a lot of procedures, with costs usually double the state common, in keeping with a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday towards HCA Healthcare and its Mission Well being subsidiary in Asheville.
The 87-page lawsuit, filed in Superior Courtroom in Buncombe County by a bunch of native residents, alleges that Nashville-based HCA illegally used its efficient monopoly market energy within the area to lift costs whereas decreasing the standard of care on the six hospitals and a number of clinics it operates in Western North Carolina, harming docs and customers.
“As soon as we’ve been served with the lawsuit, we will reply appropriately via the authorized course of,” Nancy Lindell, division director for public and media relations for HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division and Mission Well being, stated in a press release. “Mission Well being is dedicated to the well being and well-being of each one who involves us for care, and we’re happy with our devoted hospital groups which might be going through the numerous challenges of this pandemic and the distinctive care they’ve supplied to our sufferers.”
Lots of the allegations towards HCA and Mission Well being had been first reported by Asheville Watchdog.
The plaintiffs within the class-action go well with embody Katherine Button, Religion Prepare dinner, and Will Overfelt of Asheville, Richard Nash of Candler, William Davis of Clyde, and Jonathan Powell of Morganton. The grievance was ready by the legislation corporations Wallace & Graham of Salisbury, N.C., and Fairmark Companions of Washington, D.C.
HCA Criticism Filed 10 Aug … by dufflewis
https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2021/08/15/local-residents-sue-hca-alleging-overcharging-at-mission-hospital/
