Drug Testing Lab Millennium Health To Settle Federal Suit For $256M
The government alleged that the largest U.S. lab-testing company charged Medicare for unnecessary tests and provided gifts to doctors in exchange for referrals. Millennium Health is expected to file for bankruptcy by Nov. 10 as part of a corporate restructuring.
The Wall Street Journal:
Millennium Health Settles Federal Allegations For $256 Million
Millennium Health agreed to pay $256 million to resolve government allegations that it billed Medicare for unnecessary tests. The company’s owners, including private-equity firm TA Associates Management LP and company founder James Slattery, plan to cover the federal settlement and make a separate payment to creditors, according to people familiar with the matter. (Jarzemsky and Weaver, 10/19)
Bloomberg:
Millennium Health To Settle Referral Lawsuit
Millennium Health LLC has agreed to pay $256 million to resolve claims it misrepresented the need for procedures and offered gifts to doctors in exchange for referrals. The biggest US lab-testing company plans to file for bankruptcy protection by Nov. 10, enabling it to turn over control of the company to its lenders, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. (Keller and Schoenberg, 10/20)
The Associated Press:
Drug Lab To Pay $256M Federal Settlement
A drug testing lab has agreed to pay the federal government $256 million following allegations it billed federal healthcare programs for medically unnecessary testing. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Carmen Ortiz announced Monday that Millennium Health will pay $227 million to resolve allegations it billed Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs for unnecessary urine drug testing from Jan. 1, 2008 through May 20, 2015. (10/19)
In other marketplace news -
Reuters:
Community Health Systems Violated Worker Rights - U.S. Labor Board
Community Health Systems Inc and seven of its hospitals violated employees' rights to discuss working conditions, punished labor organizing and refused to bargain with unions, a U.S. labor agency alleged on Monday. The National Labor Relations Board's Office of General Counsel said it issued a consolidated complaint involving 29 charges at hospitals in California, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia owned by Tennessee-based Community, the second-largest publicly traded U.S. hospital operator. (Wiessner, 10/19)
