Business

Tenet, doctors settle cardiac claims

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 5, 2005

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Tenet Healthcare Corp. and four physicians accused of performing scores of unnecessary cardiac procedures to boost profits at a California hospital have reached an agreement with federal prosecutors to resolve the allegations without any criminal charges being filed.

Under the settlement, the four physicians agreed to pay a total of $32.5 million to victims of the procedures and to government insurance programs, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced Nov. 15. Two of the physicians -- heart surgeon Fidel Realyvasquez, MD, and cardiologist Chae Hyun Moon, MD -- also agreed to never again perform cardiac procedures on Medicare, Medi-Cal TRICARE patients.

The physicians and their lawyers categorize their decision to settle as one driven by a desire to end the investigations, and they continue to deny wrongdoing. Much of the settlement money is coming from the physicians' insurer, which could decide to appeal the settlement.

Tenet, which owned the Redding Medical Center while the procedures were performed there, agreed to pay an additional $5.5 million to resolve outstanding "issues." In August 2003, the Dallas-based hospital chain agreed to pay $54 million to settle federal and state claims stemming from the investigation.

Tenet sold the hospital in July 2004. A few months later, the company established a $395 million settlement fund to resolve civil lawsuits brought by more than 750 former patients and their relatives.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/05/bibf1205.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn