AG’s office seizes Sunrise medical billing records

Art Nadler

Wednesday, April 29, 1998 | 11:38 a.m.

The state attorney general's office seized medical billing records at Sunrise Hospital this morning as part of a joint investigation with the FBI.

Bob Harmon, spokesman for the attorney general, said today's action is separate from an ongoing, national investigation that is looking into Medicare fraud.

The attorney general's office declined to say anything beyond this written statement:

"The Nevada attorney general's office confirms today that Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. has consented to allow staff of the Nevada attorney general's office to inspect a wide range of records, documents and computer information at Columbia Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas and at an off-site storage facility, and to take possession of these items for further review..."

Mitch Mitchell, president and chief executive officer at Sunrise Hospital, responded today, also with a written statement. He said:

"Yesterday, we agreed with the state of Nevada to allow the state's Medicaid Fraud Unit immediate access to certain hospital records pursuant to a subpoena.

"We are working with the state to establish a process that allows them to obtain reasonable access to requested information at a minimum disruption. We believe this cooperative approach will serve the interests of all to quickly resolve any outstanding issues."

In July 1997, the U.S. District Court in Fort Meyers, Fla., issued indictments against Robert Whiteside, director of reimbursements in Nashville, Tenn.; Jay Jarrell, chief executive officer, and Michael Neeb, chief financial officer of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp's southwest Florida division.

The FBI said the three were charged with making false Medicare payment statements, issuing false statements to a federal agency, conspiracy and aiding and abetting.

The FBI has been conducting a nationwide investigation of Columbia/HCA's Medicare billing practices over the last two years.