By: Nick Givas
https://justthenews.com/nick-givas
In the latest instance in a pattern of aggressive regulatory and criminal enforcement actions by the Biden administration against the Catholic Church, the Department of Health and Human Services is threatening to pull vital government funding from Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, Okla., unless the hospital consents to extinguish an eternal gas-powered flame regulators claim is a safety hazard.
Saint Francis, a Catholic health system, always keeps a sacred candle lit within its hospital chapels, yet the Joint Commission, a nonprofit group which accredits thousands of hospitals across the country claimed in February that one particular flame was dangerous and instructed the healthcare system to extinguish it or face the loss of federal funding.
After the hospital appealed the decision to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services responded on April 20 with a letter affirming the Joint Commission's initial decision.
Confirming that it agreed "with TJC's deficiency citation because a hospital must ensure that the life safety from fire requirements are met in accordance with 42 CFR §482.41(b)," CMS wrote: "We recommend that your facility engage with TJC on the plan of correction (evidence of standard compliance) process to address this deficiency. Accrediting organizations (AOs), such as TJC, must meet or exceed CMS' Conditions of Participation. Since AOs may exceed CMS standards, TJC may consider additional requirements as to what may be acceptable as part of the plan of correction process and may also advise on next steps if an acceptable plan of correction is not received."
https://justthenews.com/nation/religion/f-targeting-catholics-biden-admin-continues-after-threat-cut-hospital-funding-over