Hein-Muniz v. Aiken Reg’l Med. Ctrs. (Summary)

HCQIA IMMUNITY

Hein-Muniz v. Aiken Reg’l Med. Ctrs., No. 12-2439 (4th Cir. July 5, 2013)

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of a hospital based on HCQIA immunity.  The appeals court ruled that the plaintiff physician failed to show that any of the HCQIA requirements were not met, or that the facts relied upon by the hospital Board in terminating her privileges were “so obviously mistaken or inadequate as to make reliance on them unreasonable.”  Thus, the plaintiff was unable to defeat the HCQIA’s presumption that the hospital complied with the Act’s standards.