U.S. Expands Probe of Columbia / HCA Execs

A grand jury probing health-care fraud indicted a fourth Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. executive and broadened charges against three other managers of the hospital giant, U.S. Atty. Charles Wilson said. The four are accused of submitting false and fraudulent cost reports to Medicare, Medicaid and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Military Services, Wilson said. The charges, involving billings on behalf of Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla., were part of a broad investigation of Nashville-based Columbia/HCA. The inquiry has rocked the company, spurring divestitures and changes in top management. The indictments were made against Jay Jarrell, chief executive, southwest Florida division; Michael Neeb, chief financial officer, northern Florida; Robert Whiteside, director, Nashville; and Carl Lynn Dick, CFO, central Florida. Columbia/HCA shares rose 50 cents to close at $30 on the NYSE.