Investigation continues into North Memorial Hospital agreement with Accretive

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson speaks July 30, 2012, about the state's lawsuit against Accretive Health. The Chicago-based company has agreed to pay a $2.5 million fine and withdraw from leave the state to settle a federal lawsuit.
MPR photo/Elizabeth Stawicki

The Minnesota Attorney General's office says officials are still investigating North Memorial Hospital despite Monday's settlement announcement with bill collector Accretive Health.

Under federal law, hospitals and any contractor sharing patient data must have a signed agreement that sets out how they will protect that sensitive information.

Swanson accused Accretive and North Memorial of working for at least six months without one of these contracts. Her lawsuit accused the organizations of "colluding" to present a backdated contract, which was "deceptively made to appear as if it was signed in March 2011 when it was really signed in October 2011."

Accretive settled its share of liability yesterday. But Swanson's office says the investigation of the so-called "Business Associates Agreement" continues. North Memorial has not yet provided comment.

Accretive agreed to pay a fine of $2.5 million and accept a ban on operating in Minnesota for as long as six years.

Accretive's share price rose 36 percent Tuesday, the first day of trading following news of the settlement.

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