Boone Health announces split with Missouri Heart Center after filing lawsuit on Friday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

After filing a lawsuit on Friday against the Missouri Heart Center, Boone Health announced on Monday that it is separating from the Columbia-based cardiology group.

According to a release from Boone Health, a select group of physicians from Missouri Heart notified Boone Health that it would be ending an more-than-decade-long partnership on Wednesday, May 6. 

“No cause was given when they sent us the notice that they wanted to end the relationship,” Boone Health CEO Brady Dubois said in a statement. “This is very disappointing because it's clear that this is about nothing more than a desire to align with Venture Capital over our community hospital. Additionally, this is being driven by a small, select group of physician partners at Missouti Heart. It’s clear that not all the partners agree with this decision.”  

Boone Health estimated during a press conference on Monday that the split is expected to affect 20,000 patients.

Boone Health added that any active cardiology patients can connect with Missouri Heart until May 6 for prescriptions. After May 6, patients will have to contact their primary care provider for any necessary prescription refills. Boone Health is asking all patients without a primary care provider to contact 573-815-8000 or visit their website for help establishing a care provider. 

The separation comes after Boone Health filed a lawsuit accusing Missouri Heart of disclosing or misusing confidential information, including billing rates, reimbursement data, and strategic business details during its transition to new partnerships with outside organizations.

Boone Health alleges it entered into a professional services agreement with Missouri Heart in 2016, which included a conflict of interest and confidentiality provision. 

In January 2021, the two sides updated the agreement, saying Boone Health agreed to provide space and financial resources to Missouri Heart, while also giving them exclusive rights to staff Boone Health’s in-patient services and out-patient cardiology clinics. However, under the agreement, Boone Health owns all patient, business and financial records. 

In November 2025, Boone Health alleges that Missouri Heart sent a letter asking to terminate the agreement without cause. Boone Health claims after receiving the letter, it requested to extend the termination date and asked to meet with Missouri Heart to discuss a transition plan, a request that Missouri Heart did not respond to. 

On Jan. 27, Boone Health says it was sent a proposal from Missouri Heart’s legal counsel for a “Fourteenth Amendment” to the agreement, which stated that if Heart & Vascular Partners LLC or its affiliates acquire part or all of Missouri Heart’s ownership or assets, it would not count as a “Change of Control” under the agreement. However, the amendment clarifies that this acquisition wouldn’t release Missouri Heart from any of its existing obligations under the original contract.

Boone Health declined to sign, claiming that it questioned whether it’s confidentiality agreements with Missouri Heart had been shared with Heart & Vascular Partners, because “it seems unlikely HVP would consent to be added to an agreement they have not seen and nor have information of its value.” 

In February, Boone Health then claims it requested information from Missouri Heart that was necessary for the transition, which included a list of patients and access to its data, a request that Missouri Heart ignored. 

On March 9, Boone Health says it met with Missouri Heart representatives to discuss its demands. After the meeting, Boone Health said it was apparent they needed to begin to build their own cardiology department to ensure continuity of care for patients after May 9. 

On March 16, Missouri Heart sent a letter to Boone Health indicating it was planning to enter an agreement with a private equity firm to continue practicing in Columbia, something Boone Health believed was a violation of their agreement. 

A day later, Boone Health alleged it asked Missouri Heart to reconsider and offered a new agreement to allow the group to continue practicing in Columbia. 

According to court documents, a renewed agreement was signed in 2021 covering professional services and management of Boone Health’s cardiology operations, but it says Missouri Heart did not respond. 

On May 20, Boone Health said it received a “cease and desist letter” from Missouri Heart’s lawyers that stated it intended to enforce internal three-year, non-compete agreements with any Missouri Heart physicians who stay with Boone Health and threatened Boone Health with “legal liability” for “tortious interference with Missouri Heart contractual agreements.” 

Seven days later, Boone Health filed a lawsuit claiming that Missouri Heart violated its agreements by preparing to launch a competing cardiology practice in Columbia. The lawsuit also argues the planned venture would violate the noncompete’s geographic and time restrictions under Missouri law.

Dr. James T. Elliott of MO Heart disagreed with allegations in the lawsuit through a written statement sent to ABC 17 News on Friday. 

"For months, we have tried to meet with the leadership team at Boone Health to work constructively towards a new, collaborative arrangement that would preserve access to and expand high‑quality care for our patients and for the entire community. Unfortunately, Boone refused to engage with us in any meaningful way. Instead, we have been met with a series of escalating legal threats, culminating in today’s filing," the statement reads.

"We disagree with the lawsuit’s allegations and believe those claims are both legally and factually incorrect. This litigation does not change our commitment to caring for patients."

Boone Health denied these claims, writing in a statement: 

“Contrary to Missouri Heart’s posts on social media and statement to KMIZ, they made the decision to terminate the PSA and MSA and end their contractual relationship with Boone Health. In their letter, Missouri Heart said it was terminating the agreements “without cause”. The date Missouri Heart provided is May 6, 2026. They set this date.” 

ABC 17 News reached out to Missouri Heart for additional comment on Monday afternoon.