The CEO of Health Management Associates’ group of Florida hospitals will leave his post in January to lead a Tennessee nonprofit health care group, the organizations announced Monday.
Alan Levine leaves the HMA post during a challenging time for the Naples-based company, which has recently seen the shareholder-led ouster of its board, federal investigations, and a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Levine represented the company in a “60 Minutes” report in December 2012 looking at HMA admitting practices.
Levine will become president and CEO of the Mountain States Health Alliance, effective Jan. 6.
“The people of Mountain States Health Alliance are wonderful, caring, compassionate and highly skilled, and I could not be more enthusiastic about joining their team,” Levine said in a prepared comment.
When asked for its reaction to Levine’s departure, HMA released an excerpt from an internal memo from HMA’s interim president and CEO, John Starcher.
It reads, in part: “Alan is a friend and a loyal colleague who most of you know as a dedicated leader committed to the success of not only our company, but the people with whom he works. He is a leader with integrity, a sincere belief in our mission, and a strong advocate for our operators in the field.”
HMA spokeswoman MaryAnn Hodge said the company is not commenting yet about replacing Levine.
For-profit HMA operates 71 hospitals in 15 states, including 23 health centers in Florida. HMA owns the two Physician’s Regional Healthcare System hospitals in Collier County and Lehigh Regional Medical Center in Lehigh Acres. Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems Inc. has announced plans to buy HMA in a $7.6 billion deal.