Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

The Company is a party to various legal actions, proceedings, and claims (some of which are not insured), and regulatory and other governmental audits and investigations in the ordinary course of its business. The Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of pending litigation, proceedings, and regulatory and other governmental audits and investigations. These matters could potentially subject the Company to sanctions, damages, recoupments, fines, and other penalties. The Department of Justice, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”), or other federal and state enforcement and regulatory agencies may conduct additional investigations related to the Company’s businesses in the future that may, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.

To address claims arising out of the Company’s operations, the Company maintains professional malpractice liability insurance and general liability insurance coverages through a number of different programs that are dependent upon such factors as the state where the Company is operating and whether the operations are wholly owned or are operated through a joint venture. For the Company’s wholly owned hospital and outpatient clinic operations, the Company currently maintains insurance coverages under a combination of policies with a total annual aggregate limit of up to $37.0 million for professional malpractice liability insurance and $40.0 million for general liability insurance. For the Company’s Concentra center operations, the Company currently maintains insurance coverages under a combination of policies with a total annual aggregate limit of up to $19.0 million for professional malpractice liability insurance and $19.0 million for general liability insurance. The Company’s insurance for the professional liability coverage is written on a “claims-made” basis, and its commercial general liability coverage is maintained on an “occurrence” basis. These coverages apply after a self-insured retention limit is exceeded. For the Company’s joint venture operations, the Company has designed a separate insurance program that responds to the risks of specific joint ventures. Most of the Company’s joint ventures are insured under a master program with an annual aggregate limit of up to $80.0 million, subject to a sublimit aggregate ranging from $23.0 million to $33.0 million. The policies are generally written on a “claims-made” basis. Each of these programs has either a deductible or self-insured retention limit. The Company also maintains additional types of liability insurance covering claims, that due to their nature or amount, are not covered by or not fully covered by the Company’s professional and general liability insurance policies. These insurance policies also do not generally cover punitive damages and are subject to various deductibles and policy limits. The Company reviews its insurance program annually and may make adjustments to the amount of insurance coverage and self-insured retentions in future years. Significant legal actions, as well as the cost and possible lack of available insurance, could subject the Company to substantial uninsured liabilities. In the Company’s opinion, the outcome of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Healthcare providers are subject to lawsuits under the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Qui tam lawsuits typically remain under seal (hence, usually unknown to the defendant) for some time while the government decides whether or not to intervene on behalf of a private qui tam plaintiff (known as a relator) and take the lead in the litigation. These lawsuits can involve significant monetary damages and penalties and award bounties to private plaintiffs who successfully bring the suits. The Company is and has been a defendant in these cases in the past, and may be named as a defendant in similar cases from time to time in the future.

Oklahoma City Subpoena. On August 24, 2020, the Company and Select Specialty Hospital – Oklahoma City, Inc. (“SSH–Oklahoma City”) received Civil Investigative Demands (“CIDs”) from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma seeking responses to interrogatories and the production of various documents principally relating to the documentation, billing and reviews of medical services furnished to patients at SSH-Oklahoma City. The Company understands that the investigation arose from a qui tam lawsuit alleging billing fraud related to charges for respiratory therapy services at SSH-Oklahoma City and Select Specialty Hospital - Wichita, Inc. The Company has produced documents in response to the CIDs and is fully cooperating with this investigation. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the timing and outcome of this matter.

Physical Therapy Billing. On October 7, 2021, the Company received a letter from a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section (“DOJ”) stating that the DOJ, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), is investigating the Company in connection with potential violations of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, et seq. The letter specified that the investigation relates to the Company’s billing for physical therapy services, and indicated that the DOJ would be requesting certain records from the Company. In 2021, the DOJ requested, and the Company furnished, records relating to six of the Company’s outpatient therapy clinics in Florida. In 2022, the DOJ requested certain data relating to all of the Company’s outpatient therapy clinics nationwide, and sought information about the Company’s ability to produce additional data relating to the physical therapy services furnished by the Company’s outpatient therapy clinics and Concentra. The Company has produced data and other documents requested by the DOJ and is fully cooperating on this investigation. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the timing and outcome of this matter.