A new bill could help improve health care in Western North Carolina.
Democratic state Sen. Julie Mayfield, who represents Buncombe County, has introduced Senate Bill 16 in Raleigh to require more transparency in mergers. The bill follows the sale of Mission Health to HCA.
"There were no public hearings. The local governments were not asked their local opinion," Mayfield said during an phone interview Monday. "No one from HCA came to town. The bill would require all of those things to happen."
Former Mission Hospital CEO Dr. Ron Paulus led the negotiations and was later hired by HCA as a consultant.
Mayfield said the state's attorney general also needs more power to act if a new owner impacts the quality of care.
The bill is still being worked on as the latest legislative session gets underway.