HCA Healthcare Reaches Settlement in Antitrust Lawsuit Over Mission Health
This week, HCA Healthcare finalized a settlement regarding an antitrust lawsuit that has affected the Asheville-based Mission Health system for three years.
In 2022, four local governments in Western North Carolina filed a lawsuit against HCA Healthcare and Mission Health. They alleged that the companies engaged in unfair, monopolistic practices that drove up healthcare costs and lowered the quality of services in the mountainous region.
HCA Healthcare operates Asheville’s only hospital and six rural hospitals in the area. These facilities were part of Mission Health, which HCA acquired in 2019.
The settlement includes several key agreements that will benefit the plaintiffs: the city of Brevard, the city of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Madison County. Here are the terms of the settlement:
- $1 Million will go to a new charity fund to help families with healthcare costs for those earning up to four times the federal poverty level.
- A commitment to keep Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard operating at least until 2032.
- A promise to assist in finding space for adult daycare services in Brevard.
- A pledge to pursue quality verification for Mission Hospital in Asheville as a trauma center.
- An agreement to provide the plaintiffs with more information about Mission Health’s advisory boards.
Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof expressed satisfaction with the settlement.
“It addresses several of our community’s needs,” she said. “We’ve advocated to extend the operation period for our hospital, and this additional three years aligns perfectly with what the community desires. Also, the commitment to work on adult daycare services is something we’ve long wanted.”
Local government leaders appreciate the establishment of the charity care fund. “That million dollars is definitely valued,” Copelof mentioned, emphasizing the importance of equitable access to healthcare.
Buncombe County, home to Asheville, shares similar sentiments. “We are thankful for the dedicated healthcare workers, especially as costs can be burdensome for many,” said Kassi Day, a spokesperson for Buncombe County. “HCA’s contribution is vital to help narrow that gap.”
This resolution comes at a time when HCA is currently opposing a new hospital being proposed by AdventHealth in Buncombe County. HCA’s case against this facility has reached the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Despite the settlement, HCA maintains that the company has not engaged in any anti-competitive behavior. “While Mission Health and HCA support this resolution, both deny the allegations made against them,” stated HCA in a press release. They claim they have adhered to all federal and state antitrust laws and argue that their contracts have not restricted competition.
However, HCA has faced criticism from various leaders, including Governor Josh Stein and State Senator Julie Mayfield. Mayfield criticized HCA’s monopoly, stating, “HCA prefers to keep its monopoly intact, which harms competition and options for consumers.”
While the antitrust case is now resolved, HCA still faces challenges in managing rural hospitals, including recent low ratings for Transylvania Regional Hospital, which received one star from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. This rating represents the lowest performance level.
The resolution of this lawsuit is just one part of ongoing legal issues surrounding HCA’s operation of Mission Health. Other lawsuits concerning allegations of inadequate emergency and cancer care remain unresolved.
