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Commitments And Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract] 
Commitments And Contingencies
11. Commitments and Contingencies:

In September 2006, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice and a relator who initiated a "qui tam" complaint against the Company relating to its billing practices for services provided from January 1996 through December 1999 that were reimbursed by Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefit program, and the United States Department of Defense's TRICARE program for military dependents and retirees (the "Settlement Agreement"). As part of the Settlement Agreement, the Company was under a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement ("CIA") with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (the "OIG") which expired on September 20, 2011. A final report regarding the Company's compliance with the CIA will be filed with the OIG. Although the term of the CIA has expired, the Company intends to continue the existence of its comprehensive Compliance Plan which provides for policies and procedures aimed at promoting compliance with healthcare laws and regulations.

In July 2007, the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors concluded a comprehensive review of the Company's historical practices related to the granting of stock options. In connection with the review, the Company had discussions with the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of Florida concerning the matters covered by the review and, in response to a subpoena received in December 2007, provided the office with various documents and information related to the Company's stock option granting practices. The Company intends to fully cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's office if there is any additional activity with respect to this matter. In March 2009, the Company settled an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to this matter by entering into a consent decree.

The Company expects that additional audits, inquiries and investigations from government authorities and agencies will continue to occur in the ordinary course of business. Such audits, inquiries and investigations and their ultimate resolutions, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the trading price of its common stock.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company becomes involved in pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings, most of which involve claims of medical malpractice related to medical services provided by the Company's affiliated physicians. The Company's contracts with hospitals generally require the Company to indemnify them and their affiliates for losses resulting from the negligence of the Company's affiliated physicians. The Company may also become subject to other lawsuits which could involve large claims and significant defense costs. The Company believes, based upon a review of pending actions and proceedings, that the outcome of such legal actions and proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations. The outcome of such actions and proceedings, however, cannot be predicted with certainty and an unfavorable resolution of one or more of them could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the trading price of its common stock.

Although the Company currently maintains liability insurance coverage intended to cover professional liability and certain other claims, the Company cannot assure that its insurance coverage will be adequate to cover liabilities arising out of claims asserted against it in the future where the outcomes of such claims are unfavorable. With respect to professional liability risk, the Company generally self-insures a portion of this risk through its wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary. Liabilities in excess of the Company's insurance coverage, including coverage for professional liability and certain other claims, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.