Columbia/HCA fraud cases
Numerous New York Times stories, beginning in 1996, began scrutinizing Columbia/HCA's business and Medicare billing practices. These culminated in the company being raided by Federal agents searching for documents.[13] Among the crimes uncovered were doctors being offered financial incentives to bring in patients, falsifying diagnostic codes to increase reimbursements from Medicare and other government programs, and billing the government for unnecessary lab tests.[14] Scott was never charged with any wrongdoing. In 1999, Columbia/HCA changed its name back to HCA, Inc.
In 2001, HCA reached a plea agreement with the U.S. government that avoided criminal charges against the company and included $95 million in fines.[4] In late 2002, HCA agreed to pay the U.S. government $631 million, plus interest, and pay $17.5 million to state Medicaid agencies, in addition to $250 million paid up to that point to resolve outstanding Medicare expense claims.[15] In all, civil law suits cost HCA more than $1.7 billion to settle, including more than $500 million paid in 2003 to two whistleblowers.[4] HCA wound up paying fines and settlements totaling $1.7 billion.
4. Mary Moewe (April 14, 2006). "Ex-Columbia chief helps grow Solantic". Jacksonville Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/04/17/story1.html.
13. Brinnging HCA Back to Life After years of scandal. Fortune Magazine Feb 2004
14. Julie Appleby (December 18, 2002). "HCA to settle more allegations for $631M". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2002-12-18-hca-settlement-_x.htm.
15. "Great Scott by Drew Ruble, businesstn, July, 2006. Retrieved 6/23/09.
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