Shows Hca News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

there tonight. the idaho college murder suspect in court. why it could now take months for him to enter a plea. our nbc exclusive on the possible cause of a nationwide air travel meltdown. we ask secretary pete buttigieg how it could have happened in our one-on-one interview. what he told us. lisa marie presley, the daughter of elvis presley, rushed to the hospital. what we're l learning. and the big move in the burger wars. the beloved chain from out west finally heading back east. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening from washington, wh...

Collected from medicare, full-time staff was reduced by 37% since hca took over. >> instead of three or four patients we were then taking six, seven, eight patients. and every time you add a patient, you -- each patient suffers. >> reporter: did you feel like you were putting your license at risk? >> every single day. >> still do. >> reporter: kelly says she became so alarmed that after 37 years, last april she quit. sue, a 17-year veteran at mission says she's seen an increase in code blues, critical emergencies. today the nation's largest union of health care workers issued a scathing report...

>> reporter: tonight, hca health care is facing accusations that it's making billions while slashing staffing to dangerously low levels. >> hca is constantly putting profits over patients. >> reporter: north carolina state treasurer dale falwell is the largest purchaser of health care in his state, ensuring 750,000 current and retired employees. you have called hca a virus. you've said they're a cartel. whwhat's your r evidence?? >> well,l, the evidedence is very simple. you're hearing horror stories about quality. >> reporter: in asheville, north carolina, hca bought mission hospital four yea...

But a federal rating system does give them four out of five stars for medical care. though they receive well below the national average in other categories since hca took over. >> it's more than a job. >> reporter: hca's vp of quality for north carolina. >> external data seems to point to the fact that mission is not staffing at a level that others consider to be safe. >> i can't comment on specific staffing ratios, cynthia. we've invested millions to make sure that our staffing is appropriate. >> reporter: hca told nbc news that they dispute the government staffing data, and have never reduce...

>> would you like to see them? >> i don't have any desire to see the forms. >> the disconnect for me having spoken now to a number of nurses who clearly do care, their level of upset is so palpable. are they lying about their experience? >> i would be hesitant to say anyone is lying. i think the truth is part in the middle, and it is perception. >> reporter: hca accuses the union of cherry picking data, and says its staffing is safe, appropriate, and in line with other community hospitals. lester? >> cynthia mcfadden, thank you. up next tonight, throughout history, pioneers looked west. so w...