ST. CLOUD — A St. Cloud hospital where a violent suspect killed a sheriff’s deputy has about two weeks to make some policy changes or risk losing Medicare payments. 

The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has concluded that St. Cloud Hospital is out of compliance with policies that protect its patients and staff. The agency has changed the hospital’s compliance status to “immediate jeopardy.”

On Oct. 18, Danny Hammond wrestled a gun from Aitkin County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Sandberg and fatally shot him. Hammond was suspected of attacking his wife and was a patient. Hammond later died at the hospital.

The hospital, operated by CentraCare Health, has until Nov. 19 to correct the policies and procedures or lose its status with Medicare. Those changes haven’t been released.

CentraCare spokeswoman Jeanine Nistler said the hospital has submitted a plan of action that was accepted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services.

“We take this very seriously, and patients and their families have no cause to be concerned for their safety,” Nistler said. “We have every reason to believe we will meet requirements by the deadline.”

CentraCare President Ken Holmen wrote in a letter sent Monday to CentraCare governing bodies that the health system had “initiated some changes in our interface with law enforcement” in management of violent patients. He wrote that the issue is coming up elsewhere.

“If we step back from this incident to look at this issue more broadly, keeping a safe environment while caring for aggressive patients is a growing state and national concern,” he wrote. “We are proud of the leadership role CentraCare has played in Minnesota in addressing this issue.”

The survey of the hospital was conducted last week by the Minnesota Department of Health on behalf of the federal agency. Elizabeth Schinderle, a spokeswoman for the federal agency, said a report from the review will be made available next week.