Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Hospital is no longer under an immediate jeopardy designation, CEO Greg Lowe told staff in a Nov. 7 email shared with Becker’s.
“I want to update you that the Immediate Jeopardy has been removed on site by the state surveying agency,” Mr. Lowe wrote. “The state has notified CMS of this positive outcome, and we look forward to discussing next steps with CMS.”
The immediate jeopardy was initially recommended by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in an Oct. 10 letter. The department cited concerns including inadequate monitoring during patient transport and a failure to assess a patient with immediate healthcare needs. CMS accepted the recommendation later that month.
Mission Hospital was required to come into compliance with Medicare conditions of participation by Nov. 9 or risk termination of its CMS Medicare Provider Participation Agreement.
CMS told the Carolina Public Press that Mission Hospital submitted a plan of correction by the deadline. Surveyors will now make an unannounced visit to ensure the corrective measures have been implemented, according to the Nov. 10 report.
Amid the designation, hospital leaders said they hired 200 employees in 65 days, including 120 registered nurses.
It marked the hospital’s third immediate jeopardy designation since 2019. Most recently, it was notified of an immediate jeopardy in February 2024, which was lifted in June 2024 after CMS determined it was back in compliance.
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare acquired Mission Health, a six-hospital system, for $1.5 billion in 2019.
“I want to thank those who were involved with this process for their work to provide surveyors with the requested documentation,” Mr. Lowe said in the Nov. 7 email. “I’m grateful to all of you for your commitment to caring for our community.”
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