For the past 16 years, Mission has been under the state-monitored Certificate of Public Advantage, or COPA. The COPA, which aimed to keep hospital prices low and maintain hospital quality for consumers, has regulated the health system’s profit margin and limited the health system from significantly increasing its market power in the area, according to the report.
Mission President and CEO Ron Paulus told the committee it has complied with all facets of the COPA, and releasing the health system from the regulations will allow it to compete with other hospital systems in the area, such as Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolinas HealthCare and Winter Park, Fla.-based Adventist Health System. Critics argued that Mission still holds a large portion of the market share, and the regulations should remain in place, according to the report.
The committee plans to issue a report to the state’s General Assembly next year.
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