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American Morning
Minding Your Business: Tenet: Falling Out of the Hospital Bed
Aired November 07, 2002 - 08:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: They are accused of giving people surgery they didn't even need, and now they're being called into account by the FBI, no less. Andy Serwer is here with that story.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you, Paula.
This is a very interesting story, a hospital company called Tenet Healthcare, one of the largest hospital companies in the United States, about 116 hospitals in 17 states, being investigated, several investigations, by the federal government alleging that they're overbilling, Medicare fraud, and then recently, the FBI raided a hospital, checking into unnecessary heart surgeries.
Now, this kind of thing, sad to say, Paula, actually happens from time to time. The FBI and federal regulators looks into these allegations, Medicare fraud is a huge problem. Now we probably wouldn't be talking about this story were it not for one thing. That is, yesterday, country legend Merle Haggard came out and said that he believes he was given one of these unnecessary surgeries at the same hospital that was raided by the FBI.
So I've decided to put my hat on, because Jack Cafferty is a huge Merle Haggard fan. I know that, Jack, if you're home watching today's show, you're probably thinking about Merle. It's a little ironic, of course, him being such a big country singer, that he's done all kinds of songs about hearts. I don't know if we have some of those titles here.
ZAHN: Oh, no. Are you going to sing again?
SERWER: No, I'm not singing. "I'll Sign My Heart Away," "I've Got a Tender Heart," and "Take These Chains From My Heart." Just to be fair, Merle Haggard has had heart problems and has had that looked into before, but he said that he's just sitting at home waiting for the FBI to get in touch with him about this situation.
ZAHN: Through the same change.
SERWER: Yes, he got a heart surgery at the same hospital that's raided by the FBI for doing unnecessary procedures. The company denies these allegations, but the investigation continues.
ZAHN: The way you look right now, the FBI might come talk to you, Andy.
SERWER: They might do that.
ZAHN: We'll let you sing in the commercial, OK?
SERWER: OK.
ZAHN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Bed>
Aired November 7, 2002 - 08:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: They are accused of giving people surgery they didn't even need, and now they're being called into account by the FBI, no less. Andy Serwer is here with that story.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning to you, Paula.
This is a very interesting story, a hospital company called Tenet Healthcare, one of the largest hospital companies in the United States, about 116 hospitals in 17 states, being investigated, several investigations, by the federal government alleging that they're overbilling, Medicare fraud, and then recently, the FBI raided a hospital, checking into unnecessary heart surgeries.
Now, this kind of thing, sad to say, Paula, actually happens from time to time. The FBI and federal regulators looks into these allegations, Medicare fraud is a huge problem. Now we probably wouldn't be talking about this story were it not for one thing. That is, yesterday, country legend Merle Haggard came out and said that he believes he was given one of these unnecessary surgeries at the same hospital that was raided by the FBI.
So I've decided to put my hat on, because Jack Cafferty is a huge Merle Haggard fan. I know that, Jack, if you're home watching today's show, you're probably thinking about Merle. It's a little ironic, of course, him being such a big country singer, that he's done all kinds of songs about hearts. I don't know if we have some of those titles here.
ZAHN: Oh, no. Are you going to sing again?
SERWER: No, I'm not singing. "I'll Sign My Heart Away," "I've Got a Tender Heart," and "Take These Chains From My Heart." Just to be fair, Merle Haggard has had heart problems and has had that looked into before, but he said that he's just sitting at home waiting for the FBI to get in touch with him about this situation.
ZAHN: Through the same change.
SERWER: Yes, he got a heart surgery at the same hospital that's raided by the FBI for doing unnecessary procedures. The company denies these allegations, but the investigation continues.
ZAHN: The way you look right now, the FBI might come talk to you, Andy.
SERWER: They might do that.
ZAHN: We'll let you sing in the commercial, OK?
SERWER: OK.
ZAHN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Bed>
