Life Care to Pay $145M in DOJ Settlement by BRIAN GRAVES Knowingly Causing Skilled Nursing Facili- Afternoon
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T U E S D A Y 162nd yEAR • No. 153 OCTOBER 25, 2016 CLEVELAND, TN 16 PAGES • 50¢ Life Care to pay $145M in DOJ settlement By BRIAN GRAVES knowingly causing skilled nursing facili- afternoon. ment with a skilled nursing facility ensuring that services are provided Banner Staff Writer ties, or SNFs, to submit false claims to The claims resolved by the settlement chain in the department’s history,” said based on clinical rather than financial Medicare and TRICARE for rehabilita- are allegations only; there has been no Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney considerations.” Life Care Centers of America Inc. and tion therapy services that were not rea- determination of liability. General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the The settlement resolves allegations its owner, Forrest L. Preston, have sonable, necessary or involving skilled Based in Cleveland, Life Care owns Justice Department’s Civil Division, in a that between Jan. 1, 2006, and Feb. 28, agreed to pay $145 million to resolve a workers. and operates more than 220 skilled press statement. “It is critically impor- 2013, Life Care submitted false claims government lawsuit alleging that Life The agreement was announced by the nursing facilities across the country. tant that we protect the integrity of gov- Care violated the False Claims Act by U.S. Department of Justice on Monday “This resolution is the largest settle- ernment health care programs by See LIFE CARE, Page 13 Inside Today Petition seeking Council Legislature’s help returns on internet needs Johnson By BRIAN GRAVES Banner Staff Writer as vice The Bradley County Commission’s work session Monday night turned into a seminar on the need for better broadband internet access. Commissioner Thomas Crye said this was only the first of mayor the meetings where he plans to have citizens speak as a signal to state legislators for the need to pass a bill next session that would open the marketplace to allow broadband providers who Councilman gets Coach says Titans have the desire to service the county to not have the hin- drance which is now in place through state laws. unanimous vote are getting better Crye said Director of Schools Dr. Linda Cash was not avail- able to attend Monday, but would at a future meeting to dis- Tennessee Titans head coach By JOYANNA LOVE cuss how the lack of internet access for students is “restrictive Banner Senior Staff Writer Mike Mularkey says the Titans on our educational system.” are improving, in spite of stum- County resident Christopher Bivens lives within three- Avery Johnson was unani- bles at crucial moments. Atlanta tenths of a mile from Paul Huff Parkway and said he can see mously elected to the position of Falcons head coach Dan Quinn the Fresh-N-Low building from his front porch. vice mayor during the Cleveland stood by his overtime fourth-down He noted all the businesses in that plaza have Charter City Council meeting Monday. decision in the Chargers game, Business internet service. “It is always an honor to serve which many feel may have led to “Charter wants $1,100 to run cable 500 feet to my house,” as vice mayor,” Johnson said. “It Atlanta’s loss. The Tennessee Bivens said. “To say I am frustrated is an understatement.” really means a lot. It really does.” Volunteers will once again be County resident Gloria Hayes said her area has much the The newly elected vice mayor without Alvin Kamara for South Banner photo, BRIAN GRAVES same problem as Bivens’ and gave state Rep. Dan Howell a GLORIA HAyES, a resident of Bradley County, presents a petition said he has enjoyed serving the Carolina. The Cubs and Indians petition signed by more than 50 encouraging better broadband community in the role. Johnson tangle in Game 1 of the World for better internet service in Bradley County to state Rep. Dan previously served as vice mayor Howell during Monday’s County Commission work session. Series tonight, in Cleveland. See See PETITION, Page 13 from 2000-2014, when then At- Sports, Pages 9-11. Large Councilman George Poe was voted into the position. Local resident says Poe lost his bid Council endorses school bus safety plan for re-election vote ‘America’ first to the At-Large By LARRY C. BOWERS greatest threats to the safety of school monies from school bus drivers and law post in this Those who keep uncovering Banner Staff Writer children — the illegal passing of a stopped enforcement officers, on the danger of the year’s election. skeletons from the closets of school bus. lack of stringent laws regarding the pass- The Cleveland City Council is whole- J o h n s o n America’s two key presidential can- The request was brought to Council by ing of a school bus in many states. It is said the vice didates — both Donald Trump, the heartedly in support of an effort to Schools Maintenance/Transportation estimated there are as many as 13 million strengthen Tennessee’s school safety traf- mayor assists Republican, and Hillary Clinton, the Supervisor Hal Taylor. The school official incidents of illegal passing each year the mayor by fic laws. brought along a video on school bus safe- across the nation, more than 165,000 per Democrat — should be reminded Council is joining the Cleveland City representing Johnson ty, produced by Cleveland High’s No. 1- school day. the city at that everybody has skeletons in Schools, the Cleveland Police Department, rated high school broadcasting entity, CHS Taylor emphasized that Tennessee is one their closets. That’s the assessment and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in meetings and events the mayor Live. cannot attend. In the past, he of one Cleveland writer who stress- attempting to raise awareness of one of the The video provides statistics, and testi- See COUNCIL, Page 13 es that although he identifies mostly served on boards with the Southeast Tennessee with one political party, he always Development District. votes “America” first; that is, he “You get to do many things for votes the candidate and not the Man’s body is the community, and meet a lot of party. See the guest “Viewpoint” on good people and say good things Page 12 of today’s edition. about the community,” Johnson discovered in said. Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland Forecast creek; not ID’d See JOHNSON, Page 8 By ALLEN MINCEY Banner Staff Writer County OK’d The body of a man was discovered Monday in the creek that runs underneath 3rd Street S.W., to borrow between Worth Street and Broad Street. Now, officials are trying to determine the cause of from the HCI death. The deceased man has yet to be positively By BRIAN GRAVES identified, though a wallet was found near the Banner Staff Writer body. Authorities have not yet confirmed if that A Chattanooga judge’s signa- wallet belonged to the man. The body has been ture Monday began making avail- Today should be sunny, with a transported by the Bradley County Medical able a new avenue for Bradley high near 76 degrees. Tonight’s Examiner’s office to either Chattanooga or County government to borrow Knoxville for an autopsy, according to reports. funds. forecast calls for mostly clear skies, Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEy Sgt. Evie West, public information officer for Under this order, they would with a low around 47. Wednesday the Cleveland Police Department, said the body CLEVELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT personnel, along with Laura Wittmaier of the looks to be sunny, with a high near borrow from was noticed in the creek around 11:30 a.m. Bradley County Medical Examiner’s Office, remove the body of a man found late themselves. 75. Wednesday night calls for Monday morning in a creek located off 3rd Street S.W. An autopsy was to be performed H a m i l t o n increasing clouds and a 30 percent See BODY, Page 8 on the body to determine the cause of death. County Circuit chance of showers, with a low Court Judge W. around 55. Thursday calls for most- Neil Thomas ly cloudy skies and a 30 percent signed the chance of rain, with a high near 75. order which Thursday night should be partly Fire burns validates the cloudy, with a low around 51. c o u n t y ’ s request to be 50 acres able to borrow Neil from the $17 Index million proceeds of the Bradley Memorial Hospital sale. Classified......................................15 of forest Thomas was assigned to hear Comics...........................................6 the motion to approve the loans by By ALLEN MINCEY Editorials......................................12 Banner Staff Writer the Tennessee Administrative Horoscope......................................6 Office of the Courts after Obituaries.......................................2 What was first thought to be a Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant recused Sports........................................9-11 relatively small wildfire that might herself when local attorney Ginger Stocks............................................4 be contained to as few as 10 acres Wilson Buchanan filed a motion to TV Schedule..................................7 of Cherokee National Forest land intervene and object to the has now has grown to burn five motion. Weather..........................................8 times that amount. Bryant noted her relationship According to Terry McDonald, by marriage to Buchanan as a rea- Photo courtesy West Polk Fire and Rescue CNF public information officer, the son to recuse herself from the A HELICOPTER IS SURROUNDED by smoke after dropping water onto the fire in the fire has burned approximately 50 case; however, Buchanan eventu- Rattlesnake Hollow area of Cherokee National Forest. The fire has burned approximately 50 acres acres. He said the fire is located in ally dropped her motion and the of land, much more than previously thought, and fire crews are continuing to fight the blaze, despite case proceeded to be assigned to the remoteness of the area.