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Legal And Regulatory Matters | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2020
Legal And Regulatory Matters [Abstract] |
Legal And Regulatory Matters | 11. Legal and Regulatory Matters The VITAS segment of the Company’s business operates in a heavily-regulated industry. As a result, the Company is subjected to inquiries and investigations by various government agencies, which can result in penalties including repayment obligations, funding withholding, or debarment, as well as to lawsuits, including qui tam actions. The following sections describe the various ongoing material lawsuits and investigations of which the Company is currently aware. Other than as described below, it is not possible at this time for us to estimate either the timing or outcome of any of those matters, or whether any potential loss, or range of potential losses, is probable or reasonably estimable. Regulatory Matters and Litigation On October 30, 2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement to resolve civil litigation under the False Claims Act brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) on behalf of the OIG and various relators concerning VITAS, filed in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Missouri. The Company denied any violation of law and agreed to settlement without admission of wrongdoing. In connection with the settlement, VITAS and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a corporate integrity agreement (“CIA”) on October 30, 2017. The CIA formalizes various aspects of VITAS’ already existing Compliance Program and contains requirements designed to document compliance with federal healthcare program requirements. It has a term of five years during which it imposes monitoring, reporting, certification, oversight, screening and training obligations, certain of which had previously been implemented by VITAS. It also requires VITAS to engage an Independent Review Organization to perform audit and review functions and to prepare reports regarding compliance with federal healthcare programs. In the event of breach of the CIA, VITAS could become liable for payment of stipulated penalties or could be excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs. The Company entered into a settlement agreement in March 2019 that will resolve state-wide wage and hour class action claims raised in four separate cases: (1) Jordan A. Seper on behalf of herself and others similarly situated v. VITAS Healthcare Corporation of California, a Delaware corporation; VITAS Healthcare Corp of CA, a business entity unknown; and DOES 1 to 100, inclusive; Los Angeles Superior Court Case Number BC 642857 (“Seper”); (2) Jiwan Chhina v. VITAS Health Services of California, Inc., a California corporation; VITAS Healthcare Corporation of California, a Delaware corporation; VITAS Healthcare Corporation of California, a Delaware corporation dba VITAS Healthcare Inc.; and DOES 1 to 100, inclusive; San Diego Superior Court Case Number 37-2015-00033978-CU-OE-CTL (“Chhina”) (which was subsequently merged with Seper); (3) Chere Phillips and Lady Moore v. VITAS Healthcare Corporation of California, Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2017-0021-2755 (“Phillips and Moore”); and (4) Williams v. VITAS Healthcare Corporation of California, Alameda County Superior Court Case No. RG 17853886 (“Williams”). These actions were brought by both current and former employees including a registered nurse, a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), home health aides and a social worker. Each action stated multiple claims generally including (1) failure to pay minimum wage for all hours worked; (2) failure to provide overtime for all hours worked; (3) failure to pay wages for all hours at the regular rate; (4) failure to provide meal periods; (5) failure to provide rest breaks; (6) failure to provide complete and accurate wage statements; (7) failure to pay for all reimbursement expenses; (8) unfair business practices; and (9) violation of the California Private Attorneys General Act. The cases generally asserted claims on behalf of classes defined to include all current and former non-exempt employees employed with VITAS in California within the four years preceding the filing of each lawsuit. For additional procedural history of these cases, please refer to our prior quarterly and annual filings. The settlement amount of $5.75 million plus employment taxes was recorded in the first quarter of 2019. As of December 31, 2019, $6.0 million was accrued in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The definition of the class to participate in the settlement is intended to cover claims raised in the consolidated Seper/Chhina matter, claims raised in Phillips and Moore, as well as any class claims in William s. On January 28, 2020, the court granted preliminary approval of the settlement. A notice of the proposed settlement has been sent to the members of the class by the class claims administrator. The court has re-set the date for the final approval of the settlement hearing for December 8, 2020. Alfred Lax (“Lax”), a former employee of Roto-Rooter Services Company (“RRSC”) filed a class action lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court in November of 2018 alleging (1) failure to provide or compensate for required rest breaks; (2) failure to properly pay for all hours worked; (3) failure to provide accurate wage statements; (4) failure to reimburse for work-related expenses; and (5) unfair business practices. Lax stated these claims as a representative of a class defined as all service technicians employed by RRSC in California during the four years preceding the filing of the complaint. He sought a determination that the action may proceed and be maintained as a class action and for compensatory and statutory damages (premium payments for missed rest periods, uncompensated rest periods, wages for time allegedly not paid such as travel time, repair time, and vehicle maintenance time, and unreimbursed expenses), penalties and restitutions, pre- and post-judgement interest and attorneys’ fees and costs. The lawsuit is, Alfred Lax on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated v. Roto-Rooter Services Company, and Does 1 through 50 inclusive; Santa Clara County Superior Court Case Number 18CV338652. The Company entered into a settlement agreement in August 2020 to resolve the allegations, for a settlement amount of $2.6 million plus employment taxes. The settlement includes technicians in its Menlo Park and Bristol locations. The settlement was recorded in the third quarter of 2020. As of September 30, 2020, $3.1 million was accrued in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. A hearing for preliminary approval of the settlement is scheduled for November 19, 2020. On October 16, 2020, VITAS received a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) issued by the U.S. Department of Justice pursuant to the False Claims Act concerning allegations of the submission of false claims for hospice services for which reimbursement was sought from federal healthcare programs, including Medicare. The CID has requested information regarding 32 patients from our Florida operations. We are cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice with respect to this investigation. The Company cannot predict when the investigation will be resolved or the outcome of the investigation. Regardless of the outcome of any of the preceding matters, dealing with the various regulatory agencies and opposing parties can adversely affect us through defense costs, potential payments, withholding of governmental funding, diversion of management time, and related publicity. Although the Company intends to defend them vigorously, there can be no assurance that those suits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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