Patients and former employees are still struggling to cope with the broken system and missing millions of dollars in wages and benefits a year after Noble Health, backed by private equity, closed two rural Missouri hospitals.
As a result, hospitals in Audrain & Callaway counties are still closed. A slew if lawsuits and federal investigations continue.
Andrew Bailey, Missouri Attorney General, confirmed that a civil investigation was underway in March. He had previously told local talk radio that there was an “ongoing” investigation into “the hospital issue.”
Bailey’s comment came weeks after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration notified executives tied to Noble Health, a startup, that they had violated federal laws and asked them to pay $5.4 million to cover unpaid employee health insurance claims, according to a 13-page letter detailing “interim findings” that was obtained by KHN.
The January letter confirms KHN’s previous reporting, which was informed by employees and patients who described missing paychecks; receiving unexpected, high-dollar medical bills; and going without care, including cancer treatment. According to federal investigators, Noble…
