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COPYRIGHT 2003 Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Jan. 16--Are we pricing consumers out of health care? The chief executive of HealthPartners went to Australia a couple years ago to find out -- and sent the $9,000 bill for the trip to his company.
That's but one example of corporate waste uncovered at Minnesota's second-largest health maintenance organization by the office of Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, who on Wednesday released a five-volume audit of the firm.
The 18-month investigation revealed lavish executive and director perks, confusing and questionable compensation methods, consultants hired without a bidding process and reimbursed for undocumented expenses, and travel that is too luxurious or unnecessary or both.
Hatch's office will work with the Bloomington-based nonprofit to address the issues.
Among the examples documented in the report:
-- $35,000 to send its board, CEO and another employee to California's Hotel Del Coronado, a four-star resort that caters to Hollywood celebrities
-- where they went on a $2,200 cruise on an ocean-going yacht; three years later, the board returned there at a cost of $32,000;
-- $1,000 on a 12-foot kayak, $800 on Waterford crystal, and $1,300 in golf clubs and balls -- each a gift to a retiring board member;
-- $2 million in consulting fees to the firm of a former employee -- although it had no written contract;
-- More than...
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