A Jackson County judge Wednesday awarded nearly $434 million to the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City in its long-running lawsuit against HCA Midwest Health.
The lawsuit was over whether HCA fulfilled pledges it made when it bought Menorah, Overland Park, Research and other former Health Midwest hospitals in 2003 for more than $1 billion. The foundation, which funds community health programs, was created with money from the sale.
Because Health Midwest was a nonprofit, HCA had to undertake certain capital and charitable commitments. The foundation claimed it failed to fulfill those commitments and sued in 2003.
“The Health Care Foundation felt an obligation to represent the interests of the vulnerable people of our region through this lawsuit," says Dr. Bridget McCandless, the president and CEO of the foundation. "And while this is the next step toward resolution, those additional monies would allow us to continue to advance the health of the underserved.”
A spokeswoman for HCA said the company plans to appeal.
