2 Columbia/HCA units plead guilty in fraud case

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Jan. 26, 2001, 8:39PM

2 Columbia/HCA units plead guilty in fraud case

Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. -- Two subsidiaries of The Healthcare Corp., formerly

Columbia/HCA, pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal fraud charges and were fined

$65.2 million.

Columbia Homecare Group and Columbia Management Companies entered

the pleadings on charges of conspiracy to defraud the federal government,

soliciting and receiving kickbacks in connection with health care programs, and

making false statements.

The fine stems from a three-year investigation of overbilling

charges. The federal government's Medicare fraud probe targeting the

Nashville-based company became public in 1997 with a series of raids on several

hospitals.

" The message is clear: Health care providers must bill the

government accurately and correctly for services provided, " U.S. Attorney Donna

A. Bucella said in a statement.

Healthcare Corp. spokesman Jeff Prescott said the guilty pleas mark

the end of the company's settlement obligations with the federal government.

The health care company signed a civil agreement with the federal

government in May, agreeing to pay $745 million in fines for overbilling.

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