Mission Health still at jeopardy of losing CMS funding

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Mission Health has received another notice concerning compliance issues from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The termination date for Mission Hospital's and Asheville Surgery Center’s participation in the Medicare program has now been extended to June 5, 2024.

Just last month, the hospital was notified it was in immediate jeopardy of losing Medicare funding because of non-compliance issues. The immediate jeopardy status was lifted, pending CMS's review of the Feb. 23, 2024, follow-up revisit survey.

MISSION HEALTH'S 'IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY' STATUS LIFTED, FEDERAL OFFICIALS CONFIRM

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent a notice to the hospital group on March 8 in response to the federal inspection at Mission in late February.

According to CMS, that survey found six areas of non-compliance.

GROUP CALLS MISSION HEALTH'S PLAN OF CORRECTION 'INSUFFICIENT'

The letter states, "Although it was determined, based on that revisit survey, that the immediate jeopardy had been removed, the survey revealed that condition-level noncompliance continued with respect to the following Conditions of Participation:"

• Governing Body
• Patient's Rights
• Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program
• Nursing Services
• Laboratory Services
• Emergency Services

The letter went on to say the following:

Although the termination of Memorial Mission Hospital and Asheville Surgery Center’s provider agreement was originally set for February 24, 2024, based on the finding of immediate jeopardy, the termination date has now been extended to June 5, 2024. Unless Memorial Mission Hospital and Asheville Surgery Center has achieved substantial compliance by June 5, 2024, the Medicare provider agreement between the hospital and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services will be terminated.

That means Mission must improve the areas of concern by June 5 or it could lose its Medicare agreement.

According to the letter, Mission must submit a plan of correction to fix the problems by March 13.

One of the areas of concern is Emergency Services.

At 11 p.m. on March 10, after the Oscars, a News 13 investigation uncovers long ambulance hand off times at the ER. Hear from nurses about how it's impacted patients and where the wait times stand now.

News 13 will continue to follow the developments with Mission Health and CMS.

Mission Health spokesperson Nancy Lindell issued the following statement:

Mission’s status is the same now as it was on February 23 when the immediate jeopardy was removed. This new letter is just part of the ongoing process and restates what was in the initial findings. The 90-day extension is simply to ensure ongoing sustainability with the already-accepted plan of correction. This is not abnormal. We remain in close communication with the agency, and we will resubmit the approved plan of correction."