The homeless man identified only as Patient No. 5 was in a wheelchair, recovering from a suicide attempt and three broken bones when Parkland Memorial Hospital staff discharged him to a homeless shelter. He didn't want to go. "The patient stated he did not feel safe going to the shelter with three casts on," says a social worker's note.

An unnamed doctor gave the staff permission to call the cops if he didn't comply. "Dr. ... says that if patient refuses shelter and transportation, that we can call the police," say notes written by a hospital nurse last month. So when the patient "stated he wanted to file an appeal on his discharge" and refused to get in a van that would take him away, the staff took the doctor's advice. "Police called," conclude the hospital staff notes detailing that episode. The cops seemed to do the trick, with the hospital somehow finally getting him off the property. But now Parkland's treatment of Patient No. 5 is coming back to bite the hospital.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent a letter to Parkland, made public last week, saying the hospital risked to lose $400 million in Medicare funding because it had placed a patient in "immediate jeopardy."