FBI Raids Columbia/HCA Office in Texas

Federal agents raided the El Paso offices of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. in the first seizure of records from the hospital giant since last July. Company officials said agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrived at its division offices and downloaded data from a company computer. Columbia, based in Nashville, is being investigated for allegedly overcharging the Medicare system at hospitals and facilities across the United States and for making payments to physicians in exchange for patient referrals. Columbia is in the process of selling its home health operations as part of a massive restructuring being pursued by new management appointed since the federal probe began. Columbia’s stock fell 25 cents to close at $26 on the New York Stock Exchange.