HCA BEING PROBED BY DEPT OF JUSTICE OVER MEDICAL NECESSITY OF STENTS

HCA, the largest for profit hospital operation in the country, with over 163 hospitals, is being investigated by The Department of Justice for possible fraud. The focus of the investigation includes decisions made by physicians concerning interventional cardiology procedures including the implantation of stents to open clogged arteries. The issue is whether these procedures meet the “medical necessity” requirements. HCA Holdings stock fell 5 percent Monday after the company itself disclosed that the cardiology practices of some of its Florida operations are under scrutiny.