For-profit and non-profit hospitals in Florida are challenging a 1992 rule used to approve trauma centers in court, according to a News-Press report.
At the center of the issue is whether the Florida Department of Health correctly approved new Hospital Corporation of America-affiliated Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Pasco County, Blake Medical Center in Manatee County and Orange Park Medical Center in Clay County.
The DOH and Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA want the First District Court of Appeals to overturn an administrative law judge's finding from last year, which ruled that the DOH's 1992 approval rule for trauma centers was invalid. After the ALJ issued that ruling, the DOH allowed the trauma centers to stay open due to a pending appeal.
Three non-profit hospitals — Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa and Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg — claim the DOH used an outdated rule when reviewing the trauma centers and did not perform an annual review of where and how many trauma centers are needed in the state.
The non-profit hospitals argue that the new trauma centers could create financial challenges, affect physician supply and affect patient care at existing centers.
It's not clear when the appeals court will rule. If the court upholds the ALJ's order, repercussions on the operations of the new trauma centers in Pasco, Manatee and Clay counties are unclear, as well, according to the report.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott co-founded Columbia Hospital Corporation in 1987 and helped with the merger of Columbia and HCA in 1989. Gov. Scott resigned as CEO of Columbia/HCA in 1997.
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At the center of the issue is whether the Florida Department of Health correctly approved new Hospital Corporation of America-affiliated Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Pasco County, Blake Medical Center in Manatee County and Orange Park Medical Center in Clay County.
The DOH and Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA want the First District Court of Appeals to overturn an administrative law judge's finding from last year, which ruled that the DOH's 1992 approval rule for trauma centers was invalid. After the ALJ issued that ruling, the DOH allowed the trauma centers to stay open due to a pending appeal.
Three non-profit hospitals — Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa and Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg — claim the DOH used an outdated rule when reviewing the trauma centers and did not perform an annual review of where and how many trauma centers are needed in the state.
The non-profit hospitals argue that the new trauma centers could create financial challenges, affect physician supply and affect patient care at existing centers.
It's not clear when the appeals court will rule. If the court upholds the ALJ's order, repercussions on the operations of the new trauma centers in Pasco, Manatee and Clay counties are unclear, as well, according to the report.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott co-founded Columbia Hospital Corporation in 1987 and helped with the merger of Columbia and HCA in 1989. Gov. Scott resigned as CEO of Columbia/HCA in 1997.
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Tampa Area Hospitals File Appeal Asking Court to Halt Opening of HCA Trauma Centers