Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.22.1
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the large number of patients comprising the client base. The Company does have significant receivable balances with government payers and various insurance carriers. Generally, the Company does not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables. However, the Company continually monitors and evaluates its client acceptance and collection procedures to minimize potential credit risks associated with its accounts receivable and establishes an allowance for uncollectible accounts and as a consequence, believes that its accounts receivable credit risk exposure beyond such allowance is not material to the financial statements.

 

 

A number of proposals for legislation continue to be under discussion which could substantially reduce Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) reimbursements to hospitals. Depending upon the nature of regulatory action, and the content of legislation, the Company could experience a significant decrease in revenues from Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is unable to predict, however, the extent to which such actions will be taken.

 

The Company maintains its cash balances in high credit quality financial institutions. The Company’s cash balances may, at times, including on December 31, 2021, exceed the deposit insurance limits provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

 

Legal Matters

 

From time to time, the Company may be involved in a variety of claims, lawsuits, investigations and proceedings related to contractual disputes, employment matters, regulatory and compliance matters, intellectual property rights and other litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company operates in a highly regulated industry which may inherently lend itself to legal matters. Management is aware that litigation has associated costs and that results of adverse litigation verdicts could have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. The Company’s policy is to expense legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the legal proceedings in the period in which the expense is incurred. Management, in consultation with legal counsel, has addressed known assertions and predicted unasserted claims below.

 

Biohealth Medical Laboratory, Inc. and PB Laboratories, LLC (the “Companies”) filed suit against CIGNA Health in 2015 alleging that CIGNA failed to pay claims for laboratory services the Companies provided to patients pursuant to CIGNA - issued and CIGNA - administered plans. In 2016, the U.S. District Court dismissed part of the Companies’ claims for lack of standing. The Companies appealed that decision to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which in late 2017 reversed the District Court’s decision and found that the Companies have standing to raise claims arising out of traditional insurance plans as well as self-funded plans. In July 2019, the Companies and EPIC filed suit against CIGNA Health for failure to pay claims for laboratory services provided. Cigna Health, in turn, sued for improper billing practices. The suit remains ongoing but because the Company did not have the financial resources to see the legal action to conclusion it assigned the benefit, if any, from the suit to Mr. Diamantis for his financial support to the Company and assumption of all costs to carry the case to conclusion.

 

In November of 2016, the IRS commenced an audit of the Company’s 2015 Federal tax return. Based upon the audit results, the Company made provisions of approximately $1.0 million as a liability and approximately $0.9 million as a receivable in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. During the first quarter of 2020, the U.S. Congress approved the CARES Act, which allows a five-year carryback privilege for federal net operating tax losses that arose in a tax year beginning in 2018 and through 2020. As a result, during 2020, the Company recorded approximately $1.1 million in refunds from the carryback of certain of its federal net operating losses. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded $0.3 million in refunds related to other net operating loss carryback adjustments and it received income tax refunds of $0.6 million related to the audit of the Company’s 2015 Federal tax return. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received income tax refunds of $0.3 million, which represented income tax refunds associated with the CARES Act. The Company used the $0.3 million of refunds that it received in 2021 to repay a portion of the amount that it owes for federal income tax liabilities that arose from the 2015 federal income tax audit. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had federal income tax receivables of $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, and federal income tax liabilities of $0.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

 

On September 27, 2016, a tax warrant was issued against the Company by the Florida Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) for unpaid 2014 state income taxes in the approximate amount of $0.9 million, including penalties and interest. The Company entered into a Stipulation Agreement with the DOR allowing the Company to make monthly installments until July 2019. The Company has made payments to reduce the amount owed. The balance accrued of approximately $0.4 million remained outstanding to the DOR at March 31, 2022. 

 

In December of 2016, DeLage Landen Financial Services, Inc. (“DeLage”), filed suit against the Company for failure to make the required payments under an equipment leasing contract that the Company had with DeLage (see Note 8). On January 24, 2017, DeLage received a default judgment against the Company in the approximate amount of $1.0 million, representing the balance owed on the lease, as well as additional interest, penalties and fees. The Company recognized this amount in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016. On February 8, 2017, a Stay of Execution was filed and under its terms the balance due was to be paid in variable monthly installments through January of 2019, with an implicit interest rate of 4.97%. The Company and DeLage disposed of certain equipment and reduced the balance owed to DeLage to $0.2 million, which remained outstanding at March 31, 2022.

 

 

On December 7, 2016, the holders of the Tegal Notes (see Note 6) filed suit against the Company seeking payment for the amounts due under the notes in the aggregate principal balance of $341,612, and accrued interest of $43,000. A request for entry of default judgment was filed on January 24, 2017. On April 23, 2018, the holders of the Tegal Notes received a judgment against the Company. As of March 31, 2022, the Company has repaid $50,055 of the principal amount of these notes.

 

The Company, as well as many of its subsidiaries, were defendants in a case filed in Broward County Circuit Court by TCA Global Credit Master Fund, L.P. The plaintiff alleged a breach by Medytox Solutions, Inc. of its obligations under a debenture and claimed damages of approximately $2,030,000 plus interest, costs and fees. The Company and the other subsidiaries were sued as alleged guarantors of the debenture. The complaint was filed on August 1, 2018. In May 2020, the SEC appointed a Receiver to close down the TCA Global Credit Master Fund, L.P. The Company and the Receiver entered into a settlement agreement dated effective as of September 30, 2021, under which the Company agreed to pay $500,000 as full and final settlement of principal and interest, of which $200,000 was paid on November 4, 2021 and the remaining $300,000 is due in six consecutive monthly installments of $50,000 payable on or before the fifth day of each month beginning December 2021, leaving a balance due as of March 31, 2022 of $0.1 million (see Note 6). As a result of the settlement, the Company recorded a gain from legal settlement of $2.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

On September 13, 2018, Laboratory Corporation of America sued EPIC, a subsidiary of the Company, in Palm Beach County Circuit Court for amounts claimed to be owed. The court awarded a judgment against EPIC in May 2019 for approximately $155,000. The Company has recorded the amount owed as a liability as of March 31, 2022.

 

In February 2020, Anthony O’Killough sued the Company and Mr. Diamantis, as guarantor, in New York State Supreme Court for the County of New York, for approximately $2.0 million relating to the promissory note issued by the Company in September 2019. In May 2020, the Company, Mr. Diamantis, as guarantor, and Mr. O’Killough entered into a Stipulation providing for a payment of a total of $2.2 million (which included accrued “penalty” interest as of that date) in installments through November 1, 2020. The Company made payments totaling $450,000 in 2020. On January 18, 2022, Mr. Diamantis paid $750,000 and the remaining balance was due 120 days thereafter. Mr. O’Killough agreed to forebear from any further enforcement action until then. The Company is obligated to repay Mr. Diamantis the $750,000 payment as well as any further payments that may be made by him. As of March 31, 2022, $1.6 million remained past due under the note payable to Mr. O’Killough (see Note 6). Subsequent to March 31, 2022, the Company repaid Mr. Diamantis $118,500 and paid $250,000 to Mr. Diamantis for further payment to Mr. O’Killough by May 18, 2022 to continue the forbearance of any further enforcement action by him.

 

In June 2019, CHSPSC, the former owners of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, obtained a judgment against the Company in the amount of $592,650. The Company has recorded a portion of this judgment as a liability as of March 31, 2022, as management believes that a number of insurance payments were made to CHSPSC after the change of ownership and will likely offset the majority of the claim made by CHSPSC.

 

In August 2019, Morrison Management Specialists, Inc. obtained a judgment against Jamestown Regional Medical Center and the Company in Fentress County, Tennessee in the amount of $194,455 in connection with housekeeping and dietary services. The Company has recorded this liability as of March 31, 2022.

 

In November 2019, Newstat, PLLC obtained a judgment against Big South Fork Medical Center in Knox County, Tennessee in the amount of $190,600 in connection with the provision of medical services. The Company has recorded this liability as of March 31, 2022.

 

On June 30, 2021, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Per the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company is obligated to pay a total of $109,739, payable in a lump sum payment of $32,922 on or before August 15, 2021 and in 24 consecutive monthly payments of $3,201 each on or before the 15th day of each month beginning September 15, 2021. The Company has made the required payments due as of March 31, 2022 and has recorded the remaining amounts owed as a liability as of March 31, 2022.

 

 

In July 2021, WG Fund, Queen Funding and Diesel Funding filed legal actions in New York State Supreme Court for Kings County to recover amounts claimed to be outstanding on accounts receivable sales agreements entered into in 2020. On September 14, 2021, the Company entered into separate stipulation of settlement agreements with the three funding parties under which the Company agreed to repay an aggregate of $0.9 million in equal monthly payments totaling $52,941 through January 1, 2023. The Company has made the required payments through March 31, 2022 and has reflected the remaining obligations owed as of March 31, 2022 as a reduction of its accounts receivable (see Note 4).

 

An employee of the Big South Fork Medical Center has filed a workers’ compensation claim in the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation for an alleged workplace injury from July 2019. The case is in its early stages. Big South Fork Medical Center intends to contest the claimed benefits, although there can be no assurance that there will not be some liability.

 

The Company has received questions in the form of a civil investigation inquiry from the Department of Justice with regards to the use of monies received from PPP Notes and HHS Provider Relief Funds. There is no allegation of wrongdoing and no indication that any liability will materialize. The Company is confident that all PPP Notes and HHS Provider Relief Funds monies were appropriately utilized and accounted for and believes that provision of the details and records will provide satisfactory answers to the inquiry.