HCA Litigation Heads To Trial As Politically Ambitious Attorney General Jeff Jackson Touts Case
Last week, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson proudly announced that the trial judge ruled that the litigation between the state and HCA could proceed to trial. The lawsuit was filed by then Attorney General Josh Stein in 2023 alleging that Mission Hospital failed to provide adequate care for in the emergency room and oncology department.
In the 2025 report released by the Independent Monitors found that HCA should be found in potential non-compliance over the continuation of certain services and participation with the Medicare and Medicaid system. Notably, the most recent report showed that Mission eliminated concerns over charity care.
As the Blue Ridge Times reported last March, throughout his presentation, the leader of the Independent Monitor team was clear that issues in the report represent nuanced issues in regards to the interpretation of the asset purchase agreement. Further, the independent report notes “It is important to realize that the overwhelming majority of those who staff the hospital remain singularly focused on providing the best medical care possible to those they encounter, sometimes under the most challenging of circumstance. While the issues facing Mission Hospital are well known, what is not mentioned as frequently is the superb care delivered by the dedicated staff [at hospitals and healthcare centers across Western North Carolina]. As we visit those hospitals and health care facilities and speak with community members, we are continuously impressed by the dedication of the staff, the condition of the facilities, and the quality of the care provided.”
At the March meetings, the lead Independent Monitor predicted that the case would head toward trial because there is ambiguity in how to interpret and apply the Asset Purchase agreement. Which is common for these types of legal documents.
Unlike the carefully nuanced Independent Monitors, Jeff Jackson is an ambitions career politician who is likely looking to run for higher office. Jackson rose to prominence over a stunt during a snow day. He then made national headlines giving the inside scoop of Senate Democrats “windowless basement” strategy. In 2021, ran for the United States Senate, then dropped out because Cheri Beasley was clearly the preferred candidate of North Carolina Democrats. Jackson then ran for Congress and served one term in the United States House of Representatives. At the prospect of facing a tough reelection fight, Jackson decided to run for Attorney General.
Throughout his Attorney General campaign, Jackson declined to commit to serving a full term, leaving open the possibility of running for the U.S. Senate in 2028. The Attorney General office is often a springboard for politicians seeking higher office.
Tim’s Take: As I said back in March, the difference between the nuanced disagreement in the filings versus the online conversation is stark. Since the lawsuit was filed in 2023, Mission Hospital earned an upgrade to a Level One Trauma Center, confirmed by a nationally recognized accrediting body, which undermines the claim that there is insufficient emergency room care. But opportunists like Jackson will latch onto issues that get attention, regardless of the facts.
