CMS is investigating University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview for possible violations of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act after Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sued the hospital's debt collection agency for not protecting patient confidentiality, according to a Pioneer Press report.
Ms. Swanson sued Chicago-based Accretive Health in late April, claiming the agency did not inform patients of its "extensive involvement" in their healthcare. The AG also issued a report that cited an incident that occurred at the medical center, which prompted Fairview staff to question whether Accretive was compliant with EMTALA. The law requires all hospitals with emergency rooms participating in the Medicare program to provide care regardless of patients' ability to pay.
Accretive has denied the AG's allegations.
At CMS' request, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health performed an on-site survey at the hospital over three days. A spokesperson for HHS said surveyors "went in to determine if there were any violations of the Medicare hospital conditions of participation, which are the health and safety requirements hospitals must meet," according to the report.
CMS is still awaiting the official report of the survey from the Minnesota Department of Health, according to the report.
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Ms. Swanson sued Chicago-based Accretive Health in late April, claiming the agency did not inform patients of its "extensive involvement" in their healthcare. The AG also issued a report that cited an incident that occurred at the medical center, which prompted Fairview staff to question whether Accretive was compliant with EMTALA. The law requires all hospitals with emergency rooms participating in the Medicare program to provide care regardless of patients' ability to pay.
Accretive has denied the AG's allegations.
At CMS' request, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health performed an on-site survey at the hospital over three days. A spokesperson for HHS said surveyors "went in to determine if there were any violations of the Medicare hospital conditions of participation, which are the health and safety requirements hospitals must meet," according to the report.
CMS is still awaiting the official report of the survey from the Minnesota Department of Health, according to the report.
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