More than 450 hospitals, including 27 in California pay over $250 million in cardiac-device investigation

"More than 450 hospitals have settled with the government for more than $250 million as part of a yearslong, nationwide investigation into the suspected overuse of implantable cardiac devices, the U.S. Justice Department announced Friday.

The hospital systems involved include many of the country's largest, such as Adventist, Ascension Health, Banner Health, Catholic Health Initiatives, Community Health Systems, HCA, Tenet Healthcare Corp. and Universal Health Services among others.

At 42, HCA had the most hospitals involved in settlements and is paying the highest portion of the settlement, $15.8 million, followed by Ascension Health with 32 settling for $14.9 million and then Community Health Systems with 31 settling for $13 million.

None of those three systems admitted to any liability as part of their settlements.

Community Health Systems said in a statement Friday it agreed to the settlement to “avoid the continuing delay, uncertainty, inconvenience and expense of protracted litigation.”

“The issue involved a highly technical interpretation of a Medicare national coverage determination that was the subject of strong disagreement in the medical community," Community Health Systems said.

Ascension spokesman Nick Ragone said in a statement that Ascension was pleased to have reached an agreement with the Justice Department. “We are proud and appreciative of the cardiac care provided by our physicians, nurses and other caregivers nationwide to individuals in the communities we serve,” Ragone said."

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