June 28, 2009 by Robert David Malove
EIGHT MORE MIAMI-AREA RESIDENTS CHARGED IN $22 MILLION MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME INVOLVING HOME HEALTH CARE
MIAMI, FL (June 26) - Gladys Zambrana, Javier Zambrana, Enrique Perez, Alejandro Hernandez Quiros aka Alex Hernandez, Vanessa Estrada, Vicenta Tellechea, Modesto Hidalgo and Carlos Castaneda were indicted in connection with an alleged $22 million Medicare fraud scheme operated out of Miami businesses purporting to specialize in home health care services.
Gladys Zambrana was also charged with four counts of health care fraud. Gladys Zambrana and Hernandez Quiros were charged with three counts each of paying health care kickbacks, while Perez, Hidalgo and Tellechea were charged with one count each of paying health care kickbacks. Gladys Zambrana, Perez, Alejandro Quiros, Tellechea and Castaneda were also charged with conspiracy to launder health care fraud proceeds.
According to the indictment, Gladys Zambrana, Perez and Hernandez Quiros operated ABC Home Health Care Inc. (ABC), listing Javier Zambrana as the owner; and Gladys Zambrana and Castaneda operated Florida Home Health Care Providers Inc. (Florida Home Health), listing Tellechea as the owner. Both ABC and Florida Home Health purported to be home health agencies that catered to Medicare beneficiaries. The indictment alleges that at both agencies, beneficiaries were recruited and paid kickbacks and bribes to arrange for their Medicare beneficiary numbers to be used by their co-conspirators to file claims with Medicare for purported home health care services. The indictment alleges that the services were not provided and were not medically necessary.
The indictment alleges that in addition to exerting ownership and control of the home health agencies, Hernandez Quiros and Castaneda acted as Medicare beneficiary recruiters for ABC and Florida Home Health, respectively; and Hidalgo, a medical assistant, falsified medical tests and records to make it appear that the services were needed. The indictment alleges that ABC billed more than $17 million to the Medicare program for services provided from January 2006 through December 2008 that were medically unnecessary and were not actually provided. During that time frame, Medicare paid more than $11 million on those fraudulent claims submitted by ABC. The indictment also alleges that from October 2007 through March 2009, Florida Home Health billed more than $5 million to the Medicare program for services that were medically unnecessary and not actually provided. During that time frame, Medicare paid more than $4 million on those fraudulent claims submitted by Florida Home Health.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Each charged count of health care fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and each count of paying health care kickbacks carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Conspiracy to launder health care fraud proceeds carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years per count.
In conjunction with the criminal case, on June 24, 2009, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also filed a civil complaint for injunctive relief under the fraud injunction statute and obtained a temporary restraining order freezing the assets of ABC, Florida Home Health, Gladys Zambrana, Javier Zambrana, Perez, Hernandez Quiros, Castaneda and Tellechea. In addition, that temporary restraining order also freezes certain financial assets of four other companies the defendants owned or controlled and allegedly used to launder money fraudulently obtained from Medicare. The temporary restraining order is intended to preserve the remaining proceeds of the fraud for recovery by the United States as part of the criminal case and any related civil proceedings.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman, the “[c]oordinated criminal and civil action delivers an effective one-two punch to health care fraudsters: they were not only caught and criminally charged, but they are also being stripped of their illegal proceeds.”
Posted by Robert David Malove | Permalink | Email This Post
Posted In: Home Health Care Fraud
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Fraud ran for seven years
By JACK HEALY
Published: June 18, 2009
Four years ago, Richard M. Scrushy, the former chief executive of HealthSouth, walked out of a federal courthouse in Alabama and thanked God that he had been acquitted of criminal charges that he defrauded the company. But on Thursday, a state judge still found Mr. Scrushy responsible for the fraud and ordered him to pay $2.9 billion to the company’s shareholders.
In his decision, the judge, Allwin E. Horn, declared that Mr. Scrushy knew about and took part in concocting false financial statements that inflated HealthSouth’s earnings to meet Wall Street’s expectations and to buoy the stock.
The fraud ran for seven years, totaled $2.7 billion and was “remarkable and perhaps unique” in its size and scope, the judge wrote.
“Scrushy was the C.E.O. of the fraud,” Judge Horn wrote.
The ruling was a coda on an era of scandals at companies like Enron, WorldCom, Tyco International and ImClone.
“This is the last chapter in the great epic drama of major corporate scandals that we saw in the last 10 years,” said Robert J. Mintz, a former federal prosecutor who followed Mr. Scrushy’s criminal trial. “It in some ways closes the book on the wave of unprecedented corporate fraud we saw. This one has dragged out even longer than Enron.”
For prosecutors who failed to win a conviction of Mr. Scrushy and shareholders whose HealthSouth shares crumbled after the fraud was unmasked, the judge’s decision offered a belated, if anticlimactic, vindication.
“He was the orchestrator of this fraud,” said Alice H. Martin, the United States attorney who unsuccessfully prosecuted Mr. Scrushy on 36 criminal counts. Ms. Martin is retiring on Friday. “That’s what I’m calling my retirement gift.”
While Mr. Scrushy’s criminal trial in 2005 was a five-month drama that fascinated many in Alabama and drew throngs of reporters to the courtroom, this civil trial was a quieter proceeding. It lasted two weeks and was decided by a judge, and Mr. Scrushy was often not even present.
Mr. Scrushy had already been sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for bribing a former governor of Alabama, and he spent much of the civil trial in a holding cell away from the courtroom, lawyers said. He appeared in court only to testify in his own defense.
Lawyers said the judgment was the first time that Mr. Scrushy had been found liable in any courtroom for his actions at HealthSouth, which operates dozens of rehabilitation clinics and hospitals across the country. He has already been ordered to pay fines and to repay millions of dollars in bonuses. Several other executives of HealthSouth have been convicted in the case.
Mr. Scrushy has maintained his innocence and has said he knew nothing about the fraud. His lawyers did not return calls for comment on Thursday, but other lawyers connected to the case said they expected Mr. Scrushy to appeal. He is appealing his criminal conviction in the bribery case.
Lawyers for HealthSouth and shareholders said they were poised to go after Mr. Scrushy’s assets, but it is doubtful they will ever squeeze anything close to $2.9 billion from him. Mr. Scrushy has sold his shares of HealthSouth — which closed at $13.02 on Thursday — and was estimated to have $275 million in assets in 2005, said John Haley, a lawyer for shareholders.
“The only thing that remains now is collecting on it,” said Donald Q. Cochran, a law professor at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
Published: June 18, 2009
Four years ago, Richard M. Scrushy, the former chief executive of HealthSouth, walked out of a federal courthouse in Alabama and thanked God that he had been acquitted of criminal charges that he defrauded the company. But on Thursday, a state judge still found Mr. Scrushy responsible for the fraud and ordered him to pay $2.9 billion to the company’s shareholders.
In his decision, the judge, Allwin E. Horn, declared that Mr. Scrushy knew about and took part in concocting false financial statements that inflated HealthSouth’s earnings to meet Wall Street’s expectations and to buoy the stock.
The fraud ran for seven years, totaled $2.7 billion and was “remarkable and perhaps unique” in its size and scope, the judge wrote.
“Scrushy was the C.E.O. of the fraud,” Judge Horn wrote.
The ruling was a coda on an era of scandals at companies like Enron, WorldCom, Tyco International and ImClone.
“This is the last chapter in the great epic drama of major corporate scandals that we saw in the last 10 years,” said Robert J. Mintz, a former federal prosecutor who followed Mr. Scrushy’s criminal trial. “It in some ways closes the book on the wave of unprecedented corporate fraud we saw. This one has dragged out even longer than Enron.”
For prosecutors who failed to win a conviction of Mr. Scrushy and shareholders whose HealthSouth shares crumbled after the fraud was unmasked, the judge’s decision offered a belated, if anticlimactic, vindication.
“He was the orchestrator of this fraud,” said Alice H. Martin, the United States attorney who unsuccessfully prosecuted Mr. Scrushy on 36 criminal counts. Ms. Martin is retiring on Friday. “That’s what I’m calling my retirement gift.”
While Mr. Scrushy’s criminal trial in 2005 was a five-month drama that fascinated many in Alabama and drew throngs of reporters to the courtroom, this civil trial was a quieter proceeding. It lasted two weeks and was decided by a judge, and Mr. Scrushy was often not even present.
Mr. Scrushy had already been sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for bribing a former governor of Alabama, and he spent much of the civil trial in a holding cell away from the courtroom, lawyers said. He appeared in court only to testify in his own defense.
Lawyers said the judgment was the first time that Mr. Scrushy had been found liable in any courtroom for his actions at HealthSouth, which operates dozens of rehabilitation clinics and hospitals across the country. He has already been ordered to pay fines and to repay millions of dollars in bonuses. Several other executives of HealthSouth have been convicted in the case.
Mr. Scrushy has maintained his innocence and has said he knew nothing about the fraud. His lawyers did not return calls for comment on Thursday, but other lawyers connected to the case said they expected Mr. Scrushy to appeal. He is appealing his criminal conviction in the bribery case.
Lawyers for HealthSouth and shareholders said they were poised to go after Mr. Scrushy’s assets, but it is doubtful they will ever squeeze anything close to $2.9 billion from him. Mr. Scrushy has sold his shares of HealthSouth — which closed at $13.02 on Thursday — and was estimated to have $275 million in assets in 2005, said John Haley, a lawyer for shareholders.
“The only thing that remains now is collecting on it,” said Donald Q. Cochran, a law professor at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
HCA International- Conservatives for Patients Rights
Conservatives for Patients' Rights commercial with the Doctor in England?
2008--- HCA International
Welcome to London's leading private hospitals- HCA International
Why we are London's No. 1 private hospital group- HCA International
� More than 3,000 top London and UK specialists in private practice- HCA International
No. 1 private hospital?- HCA International
This is what STUPID AMERICA gets:
LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASE IN U.S. HISTORY SETTLED; HCA INVESTIGATION
Note: Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) was acquired by Columbia in 1994.
1997- As part of Richard Scott's severance package from Columbia he was paid $5.13 million and given a five year consulting contract at $950,000 per year.
1997+5 years consulting =2002
In 2002 FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises in Dublin, Ohio.
National Century Financial Enterprises
Guess where ALL of Rick Scott’s Columbia homecare units were? National Century Financial Enterprises.
Largest fraud case the FBI has ever investigated-one acquittal- James K Happ, the ex-CFO of Columbia Homecare Group, Inc.
Jurors stated; "PROSECUTOR DID NOT DO HIS JOB"�hmm
Leo Wise , now at the ethics CBO ---jurors stated 'PROSECUTOR DID NOT DO HIS JOB'
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case of staggering fraud," 'It is one of the largest frauds the FBI has ever investigated. (Leo Wise )
The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ--the CFO of Columbia Homecare Group.
Leo Wise , (now at the ethics CBO) stated "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case of staggering fraud," 'It is one of the largest frauds the FBI has ever investigated.
Then- low and behold: December 18, 2008 The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!...belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said.
Columbia/HCA is a partnership of financier Richard Rainwater of Ft. Worth and lawyer Richard Scott. Scott was recently terminated by Darla Moore, the wife of Richard Rainwater.
Richard Rainwater, ex-partner of GW Bush with the Rangers
Leo Wise, now at the ethics CBO ---jurors stated 'PROSECUTOR DID NOT DO HIS JOB'
In 2002 FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises in Dublin, Ohio
"This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America," said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
Richard Scott -- sometimes called "the Bill Gates of health care" -- quit as chairman of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. amid a massive federal investigation into the Medicare billing, physician recruiting and home-care practices of the nation's largest for-profit health care company.
Columbia/HCA is a partnership of financier Richard Rainwater of Ft. Worth and lawyer Richard Scott. Scott was recently terminated by Darla Moore, the wife of Richard Rainwater.
Rainwater also owned a large stake in Magellan Health Care which controls Charter Medical. Magellan, run by Darla Moore, is the largest network of psychiatric hospitals in the country. They are becoming more and more involved in obtaining government money for services formerly not covered as health care, according to Fortune Magazine.
1997 - Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. - the nation's largest for-profit health care company
2008--- HCA International
Welcome to London's leading private hospitals- HCA International
Why we are London's No. 1 private hospital group- HCA International
� More than 3,000 top London and UK specialists in private practice- HCA International
No. 1 private hospital?- HCA International
This is what STUPID AMERICA gets:
LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASE IN U.S. HISTORY SETTLED; HCA INVESTIGATION
Note: Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) was acquired by Columbia in 1994.
1997- As part of Richard Scott's severance package from Columbia he was paid $5.13 million and given a five year consulting contract at $950,000 per year.
1997+5 years consulting =2002
In 2002 FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises in Dublin, Ohio.
National Century Financial Enterprises
Guess where ALL of Rick Scott’s Columbia homecare units were? National Century Financial Enterprises.
Largest fraud case the FBI has ever investigated-one acquittal- James K Happ, the ex-CFO of Columbia Homecare Group, Inc.
Jurors stated; "PROSECUTOR DID NOT DO HIS JOB"�hmm
Leo Wise , now at the ethics CBO ---jurors stated 'PROSECUTOR DID NOT DO HIS JOB'
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case of staggering fraud," 'It is one of the largest frauds the FBI has ever investigated. (Leo Wise )
The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ--the CFO of Columbia Homecare Group.
Leo Wise , (now at the ethics CBO) stated "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case of staggering fraud," 'It is one of the largest frauds the FBI has ever investigated.
Then- low and behold: December 18, 2008 The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!...belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said.
Columbia/HCA is a partnership of financier Richard Rainwater of Ft. Worth and lawyer Richard Scott. Scott was recently terminated by Darla Moore, the wife of Richard Rainwater.
Richard Rainwater, ex-partner of GW Bush with the Rangers
Leo Wise, now at the ethics CBO ---jurors stated 'PROSECUTOR DID NOT DO HIS JOB'
In 2002 FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises in Dublin, Ohio
"This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America," said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
Richard Scott -- sometimes called "the Bill Gates of health care" -- quit as chairman of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. amid a massive federal investigation into the Medicare billing, physician recruiting and home-care practices of the nation's largest for-profit health care company.
Columbia/HCA is a partnership of financier Richard Rainwater of Ft. Worth and lawyer Richard Scott. Scott was recently terminated by Darla Moore, the wife of Richard Rainwater.
Rainwater also owned a large stake in Magellan Health Care which controls Charter Medical. Magellan, run by Darla Moore, is the largest network of psychiatric hospitals in the country. They are becoming more and more involved in obtaining government money for services formerly not covered as health care, according to Fortune Magazine.
1997 - Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. - the nation's largest for-profit health care company
Congressional Budget Office
Leo Wise , now at the ethics CBO said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case of staggering fraud," 'It is one of the largest frauds the FBI has ever investigated.
Then- low and behold: December 18, 2008 The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!...belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said.
In 2002 FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises in Dublin, Ohio
"This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America," said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ- the CFO of Columbia Homecare Group.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a case of staggering fraud," 'It is one of the largest frauds the FBI has ever investigated.
Then- low and behold: December 18, 2008 The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!...belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said.
In 2002 FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises in Dublin, Ohio
"This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America," said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
The ONLY acquittal; James K Happ- the CFO of Columbia Homecare Group.
Hospital Corporation of America - LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASE IN U.S. HISTORY
2009-The Wall Street Journal reported that Richard Scott, "the former chief executive of HCA Inc," had formed the non-profit organization Conservatives for Patients' Rights as part of a "lobbying campaign to derail or modify" President Obama's health care proposals, but failed to note that Scott resigned from HCA in 1997 amid a federal investigation into the company's Medicare billing, physician recruiting, and home-care practices. HCA eventually pleaded guilty to fraud charges and paid approximately $1.7 billion in fines and penalties.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003; WWW.USDOJ.GOV;
WASHINGTON, D.C.
HCA Inc. (formerly known as Columbia/HCA and HCA - The Healthcare Company)
LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASE IN U.S. HISTORY SETTLED; HCA INVESTIGATION NETS RECORD TOTAL OF $1.7 BILLION
Note: Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) was acquired by Columbia in 1994.
Why does this matter? The wrath of Richard Scott and friends is to this day still affecting main street America.
Who is Richard Scott? More importantly, who are Richard Rainwater & his wife, Darla Moore?
Before GW Bush was affiliated with Richard Rainwater may I remind you-Richard Scott was the ex-partner of Richard Rainwater with Columbia Homecare Group.
In 1997, Fortune magazine ran a cover story on successful business executive Darla Moore, titled "The Toughest Babe in Business."….She created the corporate bankruptcy finance tool, DIP, debtor in possession while at a Wall Street bank.
Columbia/HCA is a partnership of financier Richard Rainwater of Ft. Worth and lawyer Richard Scott. Scott was recently terminated by Darla Moore, the wife of Richard Rainwater and according to Fortune Magazine, the “Toughest Babe in the Business”.
As part of Richard Scott's severance package from Columbia he was paid $5.13 million and given a five year consulting contract at $950,000 per year. His former president, Mr. Vandewater was paid $3.24 million and given a five year consulting contract at $600,000 per year.
Both former executives are allowed to exercise vested stock options within 90 days. Scott owned or had options on 9.4 million shares of Columbia stock as of May, 1997. Vanderwater controlled 617,375 shares. Columbia has agreed to pay attorney's fees and any fines or judgments against the two. In addition, the two former executives get their office expenses paid for two years including secretaries. If they move within the next two years their moving expenses are paid by Columbia/HCA. Not a bad deal for someone who just got fired! Wow! What a surprise!
Rainwater also owned a large stake in Magellan Health Care which controls Charter Medical. Magellan, run by Darla Moore, is the largest network of psychiatric hospitals in the country. They are becoming more and more involved in obtaining government money for services formerly not covered as health care, according to Fortune Magazine.
Columbia just decided to sell its home health-care business and its head announced she is forming a company of her own. The home care unit is valued at $ 450 million. At least two other top executives of Columbia have resigned.
On Sept 8, 1998 Standard and Poors downgraded the bonds of Charter/HCA to negative bases on poor earnings. Looks like Rainwater and his Crescent Cos' have finally stumbled. One source within the company said it would be a long while before any new high-ticket acquisitions would take place. A previous deal with Prudential is in danger of being jettisoned.
Why does this matter- September 8, 1998?
We must review the case that just ended in December 2008 in Columbus Ohio with National Century Financial Enterprises which was headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. It began in 2002 when FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises Dublin, Ohio
National Century Financial Enterprises:
“This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America,” said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
Just a reminder relating to the need for ‘healthcare financial service’ i.e. (NCFE) National Century Financial Enterprises; home health - which was struggling under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; about 1,400 agencies closed nationwide in 1998.
3/9/2006
10-K SEC Filing, filed by J P MORGAN CHASE & CO on 3/9/2006: Enron litigation. JPMorgan Chase and certain of its officers and directors are involved in a number of lawsuits arising out of its banking relationships with Enron Corp.; the three current or former Firm employees are sued in their roles as former members of NCFE's board of directors
Just a reminder relating to the need for ‘healthcare financial service’ i.e. (NCFE) National Century Financial Enterprises; home health - which is struggling under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; about 1,400 agencies closed nationwide in 1998.
March 26, 2008; By Jodi Andes; THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Nine other executives have been convicted or pleaded guilty in National Century's collapse. Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial.
Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial?
December 18, 2008 - The ONE AND ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!
By Jodi Andes THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Prosecutors' case fell short, juror says National Century fraud case produces 1st acquittal ; The "not guilty" verdicts that came in federal court yesterday were not so much a vindication of the last National Century Financial Enterprises executive to stand trial, a juror said.
Instead, they were more a belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said after he and his fellow jurors acquitted James K. Happ of five counts after 12 hours of deliberation. "He very well may have been guilty. A lot of us thought he was," said the juror who wouldn't give his name. "But if he was, you gotta have the evidence."
To unravel this massive fraud that links FRAUD intertwined with Healthcare, Corporate Bankruptcy and Financial Institutes we can go back to 1979-but I will start with 1997:
July 26, 1997, Los Angeles Times article:
A controversial deal maker whose hard-nosed business tactics have reshaped the medical industry resigned Friday as scandal engulfed the vast hospital empire he had assembled over the last decade.
Richard Scott -- sometimes called "the Bill Gates of health care" -- quit as chairman of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. amid a massive federal investigation into the Medicare billing, physician recruiting and home-care practices of the nation's largest for-profit health care company.
Though the federal probe focuses on other states, Columbia's aggressive expansion has included California, where the company operates 15 hospitals, 13 surgery centers and 10 home-health-care agencies, employing more than 11,000.
July 26, 1997- Where was James K Happ?
SEC Form September 9, 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Med Diversified Inc.:
Previously, Mr. Happ served for three years as executive vice president of NCFE, during which time he restructured the servicer department to improve operational performance and accelerated the utilization of technology to increase operational efficiency.
Mr. Happ also served as chief financial officer of the Dallas-based Columbia Homecare Group, Inc.,
… In this role, he directed the company through the challenging reimbursement climate, known as the interim payment system, and participated in the divestiture of all of Columbia/HCA's home care operations
Who purchased the majority of this divestiture in late ’98 & early ’99?
Medshares, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee
Who financed this divestiture?
National Century Financial Enterprises, Inc.
Sherry Gibson pleaded guilty in 2003 to a lesser charge of securities fraud in exchange for helping prosecutors. Gibson told jurors she told investors "absolutely nothing" about National Century's practices of advancing cash to Memphis, Tenn.-based Medshares, a home-health care provider… July 30, 1999 MEDSHARES INC: Health Care Services Provider Files Chapter 11
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003; WWW.USDOJ.GOV;
WASHINGTON, D.C.
HCA Inc. (formerly known as Columbia/HCA and HCA - The Healthcare Company)
LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASE IN U.S. HISTORY SETTLED; HCA INVESTIGATION NETS RECORD TOTAL OF $1.7 BILLION
Note: Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) was acquired by Columbia in 1994.
Why does this matter? The wrath of Richard Scott and friends is to this day still affecting main street America.
Who is Richard Scott? More importantly, who are Richard Rainwater & his wife, Darla Moore?
Before GW Bush was affiliated with Richard Rainwater may I remind you-Richard Scott was the ex-partner of Richard Rainwater with Columbia Homecare Group.
In 1997, Fortune magazine ran a cover story on successful business executive Darla Moore, titled "The Toughest Babe in Business."….She created the corporate bankruptcy finance tool, DIP, debtor in possession while at a Wall Street bank.
Columbia/HCA is a partnership of financier Richard Rainwater of Ft. Worth and lawyer Richard Scott. Scott was recently terminated by Darla Moore, the wife of Richard Rainwater and according to Fortune Magazine, the “Toughest Babe in the Business”.
As part of Richard Scott's severance package from Columbia he was paid $5.13 million and given a five year consulting contract at $950,000 per year. His former president, Mr. Vandewater was paid $3.24 million and given a five year consulting contract at $600,000 per year.
Both former executives are allowed to exercise vested stock options within 90 days. Scott owned or had options on 9.4 million shares of Columbia stock as of May, 1997. Vanderwater controlled 617,375 shares. Columbia has agreed to pay attorney's fees and any fines or judgments against the two. In addition, the two former executives get their office expenses paid for two years including secretaries. If they move within the next two years their moving expenses are paid by Columbia/HCA. Not a bad deal for someone who just got fired! Wow! What a surprise!
Rainwater also owned a large stake in Magellan Health Care which controls Charter Medical. Magellan, run by Darla Moore, is the largest network of psychiatric hospitals in the country. They are becoming more and more involved in obtaining government money for services formerly not covered as health care, according to Fortune Magazine.
Columbia just decided to sell its home health-care business and its head announced she is forming a company of her own. The home care unit is valued at $ 450 million. At least two other top executives of Columbia have resigned.
On Sept 8, 1998 Standard and Poors downgraded the bonds of Charter/HCA to negative bases on poor earnings. Looks like Rainwater and his Crescent Cos' have finally stumbled. One source within the company said it would be a long while before any new high-ticket acquisitions would take place. A previous deal with Prudential is in danger of being jettisoned.
Why does this matter- September 8, 1998?
We must review the case that just ended in December 2008 in Columbus Ohio with National Century Financial Enterprises which was headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. It began in 2002 when FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises Dublin, Ohio
National Century Financial Enterprises:
“This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America,” said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
Just a reminder relating to the need for ‘healthcare financial service’ i.e. (NCFE) National Century Financial Enterprises; home health - which was struggling under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; about 1,400 agencies closed nationwide in 1998.
3/9/2006
10-K SEC Filing, filed by J P MORGAN CHASE & CO on 3/9/2006: Enron litigation. JPMorgan Chase and certain of its officers and directors are involved in a number of lawsuits arising out of its banking relationships with Enron Corp.; the three current or former Firm employees are sued in their roles as former members of NCFE's board of directors
Just a reminder relating to the need for ‘healthcare financial service’ i.e. (NCFE) National Century Financial Enterprises; home health - which is struggling under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; about 1,400 agencies closed nationwide in 1998.
March 26, 2008; By Jodi Andes; THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Nine other executives have been convicted or pleaded guilty in National Century's collapse. Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial.
Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial?
December 18, 2008 - The ONE AND ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!
By Jodi Andes THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Prosecutors' case fell short, juror says National Century fraud case produces 1st acquittal ; The "not guilty" verdicts that came in federal court yesterday were not so much a vindication of the last National Century Financial Enterprises executive to stand trial, a juror said.
Instead, they were more a belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said after he and his fellow jurors acquitted James K. Happ of five counts after 12 hours of deliberation. "He very well may have been guilty. A lot of us thought he was," said the juror who wouldn't give his name. "But if he was, you gotta have the evidence."
To unravel this massive fraud that links FRAUD intertwined with Healthcare, Corporate Bankruptcy and Financial Institutes we can go back to 1979-but I will start with 1997:
July 26, 1997, Los Angeles Times article:
A controversial deal maker whose hard-nosed business tactics have reshaped the medical industry resigned Friday as scandal engulfed the vast hospital empire he had assembled over the last decade.
Richard Scott -- sometimes called "the Bill Gates of health care" -- quit as chairman of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. amid a massive federal investigation into the Medicare billing, physician recruiting and home-care practices of the nation's largest for-profit health care company.
Though the federal probe focuses on other states, Columbia's aggressive expansion has included California, where the company operates 15 hospitals, 13 surgery centers and 10 home-health-care agencies, employing more than 11,000.
July 26, 1997- Where was James K Happ?
SEC Form September 9, 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Med Diversified Inc.:
Previously, Mr. Happ served for three years as executive vice president of NCFE, during which time he restructured the servicer department to improve operational performance and accelerated the utilization of technology to increase operational efficiency.
Mr. Happ also served as chief financial officer of the Dallas-based Columbia Homecare Group, Inc.,
… In this role, he directed the company through the challenging reimbursement climate, known as the interim payment system, and participated in the divestiture of all of Columbia/HCA's home care operations
Who purchased the majority of this divestiture in late ’98 & early ’99?
Medshares, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee
Who financed this divestiture?
National Century Financial Enterprises, Inc.
Sherry Gibson pleaded guilty in 2003 to a lesser charge of securities fraud in exchange for helping prosecutors. Gibson told jurors she told investors "absolutely nothing" about National Century's practices of advancing cash to Memphis, Tenn.-based Medshares, a home-health care provider… July 30, 1999 MEDSHARES INC: Health Care Services Provider Files Chapter 11
Largest corporate fraud investigations
December 2008, are you aware of the largest private financial fraud case in our country's history?
National Century Financial Enterprises:
“This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America,” said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
3/9/2006- 10-K SEC Filing, filed by J P MORGAN CHASE & CO on 3/9/2006: Enron litigation. JPMorgan Chase and certain of its officers and directors are involved in a number of lawsuits arising out of its banking relationships with Enron Corp.; the three current or former Firm employees are sued in their roles as former members of NCFE's board of directors...
Just a reminder relating to the need for ‘healthcare financial service’ i.e. (NCFE) National Century Financial Enterprises; home health - which was struggling under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; about 1,400 agencies closed nationwide in 1998.
Guess one of the publicly traded healthcare companies that were involved in this ‘private’ financial institution that was used for the divestiture of the losing assets of the home healthcare units?
On Sept 8, 1998 Standard and Poors downgraded the bonds of Charter/HCA to negative bases on poor earnings. Looks like Rainwater and his Crescent Cos' have finally stumbled.
Columbia just decided to sell its home health-care business and its head announced she is forming a company of her own. The home care unit is valued at $ 450 million. At least two other top executives of Columbia have resigned.
March 26, 2008
By Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Nine other executives have been convicted or pleaded guilty in National Century's collapse. Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial.
Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial?
December 18, 2008 - The ONE AND ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!
By Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Prosecutors' case fell short, juror says ….Instead, they were more a belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said after he and his fellow jurors acquitted James K. Happ of five counts after 12 hours of deliberation. "He very well may have been guilty. A lot of us thought he was," said the juror who wouldn't give his name. "But if he was, you gotta have the evidence."
Who was James K Happ?
SEC Form September 9, 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Med Diversified Inc.:
Previously, Mr. Happ served for three years as executive vice president of NCFE, during which time he restructured the servicer department to improve operational performance and accelerated the utilization of technology to increase operational efficiency.
Mr. Happ also served as chief financial officer of the Dallas-based Columbia Homecare Group, Inc.,
… In this role, he directed the company through the challenging reimbursement climate, known as the interim payment system, and participated in the divestiture of all of Columbia/HCA's home care operations
Who purchased the majority of this divestiture in late ’98 & early ’99?
Medshares, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee
Who financed this divestiture?
National Century Financial Enterprises, Inc.
Sherry Gibson pleaded guilty in 2003 to a lesser charge of securities fraud in exchange for helping prosecutors. Gibson told jurors she told investors "absolutely nothing" about National Century's practices of advancing cash to Memphis, Tenn.-based Medshares, a home-health care provider… July 30, 1999
1999- Who filed the largest corporate bankruptcy in the Western Tennessee Federal Bankrutpcy Court?
Medshares, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee
National Century Financial Enterprises:
“This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America,” said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
3/9/2006- 10-K SEC Filing, filed by J P MORGAN CHASE & CO on 3/9/2006: Enron litigation. JPMorgan Chase and certain of its officers and directors are involved in a number of lawsuits arising out of its banking relationships with Enron Corp.; the three current or former Firm employees are sued in their roles as former members of NCFE's board of directors...
Just a reminder relating to the need for ‘healthcare financial service’ i.e. (NCFE) National Century Financial Enterprises; home health - which was struggling under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; about 1,400 agencies closed nationwide in 1998.
Guess one of the publicly traded healthcare companies that were involved in this ‘private’ financial institution that was used for the divestiture of the losing assets of the home healthcare units?
On Sept 8, 1998 Standard and Poors downgraded the bonds of Charter/HCA to negative bases on poor earnings. Looks like Rainwater and his Crescent Cos' have finally stumbled.
Columbia just decided to sell its home health-care business and its head announced she is forming a company of her own. The home care unit is valued at $ 450 million. At least two other top executives of Columbia have resigned.
March 26, 2008
By Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Nine other executives have been convicted or pleaded guilty in National Century's collapse. Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial.
Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial?
December 18, 2008 - The ONE AND ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!
By Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Prosecutors' case fell short, juror says ….Instead, they were more a belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said after he and his fellow jurors acquitted James K. Happ of five counts after 12 hours of deliberation. "He very well may have been guilty. A lot of us thought he was," said the juror who wouldn't give his name. "But if he was, you gotta have the evidence."
Who was James K Happ?
SEC Form September 9, 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Med Diversified Inc.:
Previously, Mr. Happ served for three years as executive vice president of NCFE, during which time he restructured the servicer department to improve operational performance and accelerated the utilization of technology to increase operational efficiency.
Mr. Happ also served as chief financial officer of the Dallas-based Columbia Homecare Group, Inc.,
… In this role, he directed the company through the challenging reimbursement climate, known as the interim payment system, and participated in the divestiture of all of Columbia/HCA's home care operations
Who purchased the majority of this divestiture in late ’98 & early ’99?
Medshares, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee
Who financed this divestiture?
National Century Financial Enterprises, Inc.
Sherry Gibson pleaded guilty in 2003 to a lesser charge of securities fraud in exchange for helping prosecutors. Gibson told jurors she told investors "absolutely nothing" about National Century's practices of advancing cash to Memphis, Tenn.-based Medshares, a home-health care provider… July 30, 1999
1999- Who filed the largest corporate bankruptcy in the Western Tennessee Federal Bankrutpcy Court?
Medshares, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee
Friday, May 8, 2009
Doctor pleads guilty to health care fraud- Illinois, Elmwood Park
Elmwood Park, Illinois
Doctor pleads guilty to health care fraud
May 7, 2009 11:03 PM
A 47-year-old Elmwood Park doctor pleaded guilty this afternoon to federal health care fraud charges, admitting he submitted hundreds of thousands of dollars in false health insurance claims, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Dr. Otto Garcia Montenegro admitted he submitted about $500,000 worth of phony insurance claims between 2003 and 2007.
May 7, 2009
BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter
An Elmwood Park doctor pleaded guilty this afternoon to federal health care fraud charges, admitting he submitted hundreds of thousands of dollars in false health insurance claims.
Dr. Otto Garcia Montenegro, 47, admitted he submitted about $500,000 worth of phony insurance claims between 2003 and 2007.
He did it while he worked as a general practice physician out of his own clinic, Montenegro Clinic Inc. Federal prosecutors say he treated dozens of patients each week.
Prosecutors said he created hundreds of phony bills and charged insurers for visits and treatments that never happened.
“He is extremely remorseful for his conduct, the extent of which will be revealed at sentencing,” said his attorney, Lawrence Beaumont.
Montenegro is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 20.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General.
Doctor pleads guilty to health care fraud
May 7, 2009 11:03 PM
A 47-year-old Elmwood Park doctor pleaded guilty this afternoon to federal health care fraud charges, admitting he submitted hundreds of thousands of dollars in false health insurance claims, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Dr. Otto Garcia Montenegro admitted he submitted about $500,000 worth of phony insurance claims between 2003 and 2007.
May 7, 2009
BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter
An Elmwood Park doctor pleaded guilty this afternoon to federal health care fraud charges, admitting he submitted hundreds of thousands of dollars in false health insurance claims.
Dr. Otto Garcia Montenegro, 47, admitted he submitted about $500,000 worth of phony insurance claims between 2003 and 2007.
He did it while he worked as a general practice physician out of his own clinic, Montenegro Clinic Inc. Federal prosecutors say he treated dozens of patients each week.
Prosecutors said he created hundreds of phony bills and charged insurers for visits and treatments that never happened.
“He is extremely remorseful for his conduct, the extent of which will be revealed at sentencing,” said his attorney, Lawrence Beaumont.
Montenegro is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 20.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General.
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