Author: P Hasselbacher

Judge Orders Mediation of UofL-Norton Dispute over Kosair Children’s Hospital.

Breaking News 11:30 a.m.franklin-co-courthouse

At a hearing this morning in Frankfort, Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate ordered the University of Louisville and Norton Healthcare to enter mediation to settle their dispute over control of Norton Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville. It is my understanding that neither party was adverse to that happening. The Judge appeared influenced by the admissions of both sides that they have been very close to a long-term agreement several times in the past, including at a breakfast meeting yesterday at Dairy Queen! Continue reading “Judge Orders Mediation of UofL-Norton Dispute over Kosair Children’s Hospital.”

Some Problems With University Hospital Partnership Emerge. How Bad Is It Really?

Much Distress Among the Home Team.

KentuckyOne Health’s announcement of major cuts in expenditures, layoffs of employees, and possible hospital closure(s) is bad news to lots of people. The organization’s facilities and employees in Louisville are in the bullseye too. It is no surprise that nervous employees are reaching out to the media, hoping perhaps for some external recognition or oversight of their plight. KentuckyOne seems to be making a genuine attempt– perhaps too late and too little– to show some openness. In my opinion, the University of Louisville and KentuckyOne have developed a reputation for secrecy but they have not yet earned a reputation for transparency or accountability. Hiding plans from the public also hides them from their employees. The pain felt by these latter is both financial and emotional. Continue reading “Some Problems With University Hospital Partnership Emerge. How Bad Is It Really?”

Saint Joseph Health Care Settles Fraud Allegations: Analysis of Court Documents

Worse than I thought.

I prepared an earlier article about this settlement based on press releases from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and that of the FBI. I had slim hopes that more information would be available any time soon, but once again I was wrong. I subsequently obtained the full text of the Settlement, but also the recently-unsealed qui tam Relator’s Complaint to the court that started it all. The Complaint revealed a staggering degree of malfeasance with a parade of examples of medically unnecessary procedures extending beyond angioplasty alone to major cardiac surgery, and involving more than one St. Joseph Hospital. It also suggests the direction future prosecutions are going. The Settlement does not protect Saint Joseph Health System from future financial or programatic penalty as much as I expected. Both documents can be downloaded using the links provided above or at the end of this article.

Continue reading “Saint Joseph Health Care Settles Fraud Allegations: Analysis of Court Documents”

KentuckyOne Health Hospital Settles Fraud Prosecution for $16.5 million.

Civil allegations of false or fraudulent billing at St. Joseph London Hospital for medically unnecessary heart procedures settled. Criminal investigation ongoing.

In the same week that KentuckyOne Health announced statewide layoffs of its employees, the Federal Prosecutor’s office of Eastern Kentucky announced the second largest settlement in history for its region. One can only speculate if the timing was a coincidence. Although the $16.5 million represents only a small portion of the $217 million target savings that KentuckyOne hopes to achieve, that self-insured institution is also facing hundreds of civil lawsuits. The hospital system and some of its doctors are paying a high price for someone’s bad behavior. Continue reading “KentuckyOne Health Hospital Settles Fraud Prosecution for $16.5 million.”