CMS Places Mission Hospital in Immediate Jeopardy Third Time in Two Years

CMS has notified Mission Hospital in Asheville that it is in immediate jeopardy, CEO Greg Lowe told employees in a Jan. 29 memo. Immediate jeopardy is one of the most serious federal sanctions and means regulators found deficiencies that endanger patients’ lives and safety; if Mission fails to correct the problems it risks losing Medicare and Medicaid payments that fund much local care.

The CMS action followed a state survey by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services conducted Jan. 6-9. The notice is the latest in a string of regulatory interventions: sources describe this as the third immediate-jeopardy finding in roughly two years, and including a 2021 determination it is the fourth time CMS has placed Mission in immediate jeopardy since HCA Healthcare bought the nonprofit Mission Health system in 2019. In 2024, a state inspection found 18 patients were harmed — including four who died — in 2022 and 2023 in connection with emergency and oncology services; that 2024 sanction was later lifted after Mission submitted a plan of correction.

Mission Hospital and Mission Health have outlined steps aimed at addressing regulators’ concerns. Greg Lowe’s memo said the hospital plans to bring in “an independent consultant, ‘who is an expert in hospital quality, to provide guidance and oversight to our hospital leadership team.’” A Mission Health spokesperson said, “We have submitted extensive and comprehensive plans to CMS to resolve the deficiencies that were identified. Our collaboration with CMS has provided an opportunity to strengthen our processes and further enhance patient care. We have the resources and support from our organization to make the improvements identified. We take our responsibilities to the citizens of western North Carolina seriously, and our leadership, dedicated caregivers, and physicians remain focused on providing the best possible care.” Mission also said it will evaluate its grievance process, which it and CMS agree can be improved.

Critics tied the problems to management changes after the HCA acquisition. One commenter identified only as Mayfield said, “I will also note that pre-sale Mission did not struggle with the range and depth of problems that HCA has. I suggest that this is a direct result of HCA prioritizing process, speed, and profit over the most important priority: centering patient care.” The source excerpt did not provide a first name or title for Mayfield.

A resurvey of Mission Hospital is expected before Feb. 18. For Buncombe County residents who rely on Mission for emergency care, oncology services, and routine hospital care, the coming weeks will determine whether the hospital corrects cited deficiencies and retains federal funding. Local patients, advocates, and health officials will be watching resurvey results and hospital updates closely as the system implements its corrective plan.