In the two months since CEO Nabil El Sanadi committed suicide, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health has dealt with an unending wave of administrative chaos and dysfunction.
The public hospital district has been at the center of state and federal investigations, the interim CEO has already been replaced, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has suspended Board Chairman David Di Pietro and board member Darryl Wright and physician contracts are in jeopardy.
In March, Florida's Attorney General's Office demanded Broward Health pay more than $5.3 million to settle alleged violations of Stark Law and Florida's Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act. The health system is still recovering from a $69.5 million settlement with the federal government in September.
Could the ongoing disarray be setting the stage for a possible privatization bid? At their latest meeting, Broward Health officials said there is no sale or takeover plan in the works, the Sun Sentinel reported. However, the possibility might emerge down the road, especially if Broward's problems result in higher taxes for residents of North Broward Hospital District, according to the report.