Carson City, NV — Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has reached a settlement with HCA Healthcare, Inc. and Health Trust Workforce Solutions, LLC. The agreement addresses claims that HCA unlawfully required entry-level nurse employees to repay costs associated with a mandatory training program if they did not stay employed for two years.
“The debt that HCA saddled its prospective employees with was unlawful and hindered the ability of Nevadans to thrive early in their vital careers in the health care industry,” stated AG Ford. “I am proud of today’s settlement, which includes full available restitution for the impacted nurses and penalties paid to our state.”
The settlement follows an investigation by AG Ford alongside attorneys general from California and Colorado, working with the Biden administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The investigation revealed that HCA’s use of training repayment agreement provisions (TRAPs) violated Nevada’s consumer protection laws and potentially federal laws.
Entry-level nurses at HCA were required to complete the Specialty Training Apprenticeship for Registered Nurses (StaRN) Residency Program as a condition of employment. However, it was found that these TRAP agreements were not always clearly disclosed, and leaving before two years could lead to debt collection or deductions from final paychecks.
HCA operates several hospitals in Nevada, including Mountain View Hospital, Sunrise Hospital, and Southern Hills Hospital. Affected nurses will be notified about restitution plans subject to review by the attorney general.
As part of the settlement, HCA will pay $786,500 in penalties to Nevada. Overall penalties across California, Colorado, and Nevada total $2.9 million.
