ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County commissioners are calling on the chief executive of HCA Healthcare to meet with Western North Carolina leaders, citing ongoing concerns about patient safety and oversight at Mission Hospital.

The board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday asking CEO Sam Hazen to engage directly with local stakeholders, after state regulators recently approved additional hospital beds despite a history of federal citations.

Commissioners said they were “shocked” by the decision from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to allow expansion, noting that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has placed Mission Hospital in “immediate jeopardy” status multiple times in recent years — the agency’s most serious designation, indicating potential risk of patient harm or death.

“No local government stood up in support” of the expansion during a public hearing, one commissioner said, adding that residents, doctors and nurses raised repeated concerns about care and safety.

Commissioners argued that growth alone will not resolve systemic issues and warned of potential consequences, including increased federal intervention or impacts to Medicare and Medicaid funding if problems persist.

The resolution urges HCA leadership to visit the region, answer questions and rebuild trust.

“Mission is important to our region, but they have lost a lot of trust,” one commissioner said. “If they want to rebuild that trust, they need to show up and be accountable.”

The action comes as local governments across Western North Carolina, including the Land of Sky Regional Council, have passed or considered similar measures.

Other business

In separate action, the board approved several budget items, including:

• Acceptance of a $3.5 million federal pass-through grant for recycling infrastructure tied to Tropical Storm Helene recovery.
• A $7.2 million adjustment to the county’s health insurance fund becuase of higher-than-expected claims.
• Funding transfers related to a Woodfin development financing project.
• Closure and reallocation of funds from multiple special projects, including conservation easements.

Commissioners also unanimously adopted updates to the county’s farmland preservation ordinance, bringing it into compliance with state law and reflecting current program practices.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for May 19, when commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget.