By SHAWN DICKERSON
Government agents served federal search warrants Wednesday to several hospitals in Utah operated by Columbia-HCA, the largest for-profit hospital chain in the United States, said a Columbia spokesperson.
Bobbie Kale, media spokesperson for Columbia Utah Division, said that six Utah hospitals were each served federal warrants requesting documents and records related to laboratory billings.
The six include: Columbia Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful; Columbia Brigham City Community Hospital; Columbia Mountain View Hospital in Payson; Columbia Castleview Hospital in Price; Columbia St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake; and Columbia Ashley Valley Medical Center in Vernal.
“While we have not been informed on the complete nature or scope of the government investigation, we take this matter very seriously,” Kale said.
“This is an ongoing investigation,” said Dale Weiss, special agent for the FBI.
While Weiss said the searches were confined to the office areas of each of the facilities, she could not confirm the exact nature of the investigation stating the “search warrants and the affidavits for the search warrants are sealed.”
“Approximately 35 court-authorized search warrants have been simultaneously executed at current or former Columbia Health Care Corporation facilities located throughout the United States,” she said.
