First of former Columbia/HCA executives on trial gets jail time

An HHBR Staff Report

The long-running federal fraud investigation of Columbia/HCA Healthcare (Nashville, TN) has led to the first jail term for one of the former executives accused of being part of a $3.5 million fraud scheme. Robert Whiteside, a former director of reimbursement for Columbia hospitals in Fort Meyers, FL, was sentenced last week to two years in jail. He was also ordered to pay the government $645,796 in restitution and a $7,500 fine.

The federal probe into Columbia’s Medicare billing practices began in March 1997 and included Columbia home care operations in Texas and Florida. Since the probe, Columbia has sold all of its home care operations.

Whiteside was photographed and fingerprinted last week and agreed to report to federal marshals Jan. 12. But his attorney said Whiteside will appeal the July conviction soon and will ask to remain free pending that trial.