Jordan Ellis
Erlanger, also known as Erlanger Hospital, Erlanger Health, or Erlanger Health System, is an independent, non-profit hospital system and safety net hospital based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Erlanger Hospital serves a 50,000-square-mile region touching four states: East Tennessee, North Georgia, North Alabama, and western North Carolina. While Erlanger is not a government organization, it has been involved in several legal cases with the U.S. government, including a False Claims Act complaint filed by the United States alleging that Erlanger violated the Stark Law and submitted false claims to the Medicare program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Organization | Independent, non-profit hospital system and safety net hospital |
| Governing Body | Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority |
| Location | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Services | Comprehensive medical services including pediatric and adult emergency care, primary care, outpatient services, surgery, women's services, inpatient senior programs, psychiatric and addiction services, etc. |
| Funding | Not solely dependent on the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County for funding |
| Official Website | https://www.erlanger.org/ |
| U.S. Government Action | Filed a complaint against Erlanger Health System alleging violation of the Stark Law and submission of false claims to the Medicare program |
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What You'll Learn
- Erlanger is an independent, non-profit hospital system
- It is governed by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority
- It is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- It is a Level I Trauma Center for adults
- The US government filed a complaint against Erlanger for violating the Stark Law
Erlanger is an independent, non-profit hospital system
Erlanger, often referred to as Erlanger Hospital, Erlanger Health, or Erlanger Health System, is an independent, non-profit hospital system and safety net hospital based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Erlanger's main location, is a tertiary referral hospital and Level I Trauma Centre. It is located in downtown Chattanooga and serves a 50,000-square-mile region of East Tennessee, North Georgia, North Alabama, and western North Carolina.
Erlanger is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's College of Medicine Chattanooga. Medical students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis may also elect clinical rotations at Erlanger. Erlanger is a non-profit teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. It is also a Level I Trauma Center for adults and the only provider of tertiary care services for the citizens of an entire four-state region, encompassing southeast Tennessee, north Georgia, north Alabama, and western North Carolina.
Erlanger Hospital is the region's only children's hospital, with 25 specialties just for kids. It offers nine walk-in locations for non-threatening illnesses or injuries. The hospital also offers convenient valet and garage parking for its main downtown location and adjacent Medical Mall, as well as free ground-level parking at its other locations.
In 1976, area voters approved the creation of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority as Erlanger's new governing body. This transition established a new board with the ability to acquire debt, so Erlanger would no longer be solely dependent on the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County for funding. This move also transferred all Erlanger property from the city and county to the hospital authority.
The Erlanger Health System has been accused of violating the Stark Law and submitting false claims to the Medicare program. The Stark Law prohibits a hospital from billing Medicare for services referred by a physician with whom the hospital has an improper financial relationship. The government’s complaint alleges that Erlanger compromised Stark Law compliance to boost its financial standing, knowingly overpaying physicians whose practices generated profits for the hospital.
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It is governed by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority
Erlanger is an independent, non-profit hospital system and safety net hospital based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Erlanger's main location, is situated just east of downtown Chattanooga. The hospital system is governed by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority, which was established in 1976 when area voters approved the transition. This move meant that Erlanger would no longer be solely reliant on the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County for funding, as the new board had the ability to acquire debt. All property belonging to Erlanger was also transferred from the city and county to the hospital authority.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority governs Erlanger's multiple hospitals and medical centres. These include the Children's Hospital at Erlanger, Erlanger East Hospital, Erlanger North Hospital, Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital, Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital, and Erlanger Community Health Center.
Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Erlanger's main location, serves as the hospital's headquarters and houses most of the leadership team and administrative offices. The hospital is a tertiary referral hospital and Level I Trauma Center, serving a 50,000-square-mile region across four states: East Tennessee, North Georgia, North Alabama, and western North Carolina.
The hospital system is independent and non-profit, and it is governed by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority. This governing body was established through a democratic process, with area voters approving the transition in 1976.
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It is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Erlanger Hospital, also known as Erlanger Health or Erlanger Health System, is an independent, non-profit hospital system based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine Chattanooga. This partnership between Erlanger and UTHSC has spanned five decades and has been dedicated to training future healthcare professionals. Medical students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis may also elect to complete clinical rotations at Erlanger.
Erlanger's main location, Erlanger Baroness Hospital, is situated just east of downtown Chattanooga. The hospital offers a comprehensive range of medical services, including specialised care for children at the Children's Hospital at Erlanger, which is a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center (CRPC). The Children's Hospital boasts a pediatric trauma unit, a separate outpatient centre, and a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit. Erlanger also operates community hospitals in East Chattanooga, North Chattanooga, and Pikeville, Tennessee, providing a range of services such as emergency care, specialty care, and women's health services.
In addition to its hospitals in Tennessee, Erlanger has a presence in North Carolina with the Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, previously known as Murphy Medical Center. This critical access hospital is located in Murphy, North Carolina, and serves patients from North Carolina, North Georgia, and East Tennessee. The Erlanger Community Health Center, with four locations in the Chattanooga area, provides primary and preventative care, including medical, behavioural health, and dental services.
Erlanger has faced legal issues, with the United States Department of Justice filing a complaint against Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority, doing business as Erlanger Health System and Erlanger Medical Center. The complaint alleged violations of the Stark Law, which prohibits hospitals from billing Medicare for services referred by physicians with whom the hospital has improper financial relationships. Despite these legal challenges, Erlanger remains committed to providing quality healthcare services to the communities it serves.
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It is a Level I Trauma Center for adults
Erlanger Hospital, also known as Erlanger Health or Erlanger Health System, is an independent, non-profit hospital system based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Erlanger Baroness Hospital, its main location, is a Level I Trauma Center for adults. This means that the hospital provides the highest level of trauma care for critically ill and traumatically injured patients.
Erlanger Hospital's Level I Trauma Center designation means that it is equipped to handle the most complex and specialized trauma cases. The hospital has a comprehensive care system that includes dedicated shock/trauma bays for treatment and stabilization. It is fully staffed with physicians available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide inpatient and outpatient surgical services for adult patients.
As a Level I Trauma Center, Erlanger Hospital serves a large geographic area spanning multiple states. The hospital's service area covers a 50,000-square-mile region, including parts of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. This vast coverage makes Erlanger Hospital a crucial resource for patients requiring advanced trauma care in the southeastern United States.
Erlanger Hospital's Level I Trauma Center status is a result of its comprehensive capabilities and expertise in treating severely injured patients. The hospital's trauma services are an integral part of the Regional Trauma System, ensuring that critically ill and injured individuals across the region have access to timely and specialized medical care.
The Level I Trauma Center designation is a testament to Erlanger Hospital's commitment to providing exceptional emergency medical services. With its advanced facilities, experienced medical staff, and around-the-clock availability, Erlanger Hospital plays a vital role in saving lives and improving patient outcomes in traumatic situations.
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The US government filed a complaint against Erlanger for violating the Stark Law
Erlanger is an independent, non-profit hospital system and safety net hospital based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is not a government organization, but it does operate under federal standards.
The complaint was filed in a lawsuit originally brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to file suit on behalf of the US government for false claims. The Act also permits the US government to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as it did in this case. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina handled the case, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
The government's complaint alleges that Erlanger compromised Stark Law compliance to boost its financial standing by overpaying physicians whose practices generated profits for the hospital. Erlanger's compensation arrangements with physicians allegedly created incentives for them to refer patients to Erlanger, regardless of whether it was in the best interest of the patient. These financial relationships did not comply with Stark Law requirements, so any referrals made by these physicians to Erlanger are considered unlawful.
The Stark Law, also known as the physician self-referral law, aims to prevent conflicts of interest that could compromise patient care and lead to unnecessary medical services. By prohibiting self-referrals, the law seeks to create a more ethical healthcare environment where patient well-being is the primary concern.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Erlanger is an independent, non-profit hospital system.
Erlanger Hospital is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with multiple locations across the state and in North Carolina.
Erlanger Baroness Hospital in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the hospital's main location and headquarters.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority is Erlanger's governing body, established in 1976.
Yes, in 2025, the United States filed a complaint against Erlanger, alleging that they violated the Stark Law and submitted false claims to the Medicare program.
