HCA Will Settle With Justice Department

HCA Inc., the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, agreed to pay the Justice Department $631 million to settle allegations of health-care fraud, ending nearly a decade of federal investigations.

The settlement of the civil charges still needs formal approval from the Justice Department and courts. But it would bring to $1.7 billion the amount HCA has paid or agreed to pay the government in civil fines and criminal penalties in recent years.

Whistle-blowers accused HCA of filing false claims for reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid and paying kickbacks to doctors so they would refer patients to its hospitals. HCA did not admit wrongdoing.

HCA shares rose $1.39 to close at $42.90 on the New York Stock Exchange.