Wash. Times, Special Report insinuations of corruption undermined by facts

Washington Times misleadingly suggested “five of the companies” for which DeParle's worked faced “legal problems.” Under the title, “Obama health 'czar' worked at legally troubled health firms,” The Washington Times misleadingly reported that "[f]ive of the companies" for which DeParle worked “faced allegations ranging from overcharging Medicare to failing to warn patients of the dangers of their products.”

From the December 8 Washington Times article:

Nancy-Ann DeParle, one of President Obama's chief advocates for the health care reform bill wending its way through Congress, earned more than $6.6 million as a paid director for health care firms, some of which were targeted in government investigations or whistleblower lawsuits on suspicions of billing fraud and other legal problems.

Five of the companies faced allegations ranging from overcharging Medicare to failing to warn patients of the dangers of their products, according to a study by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University and a review by The Washington Times of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) records and Mrs. DeParle's financial disclosure statement.

Only later in the article did the Times report information undermining this assertion.

Fox News' Baier cited Times report without noting information undermining claims. On the December 8 edition of Fox News' Special Report, host Bret Baier -- while citing the Times report -- noted that DeParle “earned more than $6.6 million as a director for several health care firms including some accused of wrongdoing” and stated: "[T]he companies were targeted in government investigations or whistleblower lawsuits on suspicion of billing fraud or other legal problems. Five firms were accused of things such as overcharging Medicare and failing to warn patients of the dangers of their products. Most of the companies DeParle worked for have a vested interest in health care reform being debated in Congress. DeParle's office says she has removed herself from corporate directorships and maintains there is no conflict of interest." Baier did not report on the mitigating information included in the Times article regarding the status of the allegations against the companies named in the report.

One company cited as having legal troubles faced allegations for actions prior to DeParle's tenure

Medco Health Solutions' whistleblower lawsuits named in the article occurred before DeParle's tenure. The Washington Times reported: “Medco Health Solutions Inc., the No. 1 firm in the pharmacy benefits management business, where Mrs. DeParle began serving on the board of directors in October 2008, earning $13,500 in fees. The company has been the target of three federal whistleblower lawsuits, all of which are under seal and predate her board appointment.”

One of Guidant Corp.'s two legal issues occurred prior to DeParle's tenure. Similarly, The Washington Times article reported on “Guidant Corp., a heart device manufacturer accused of concealing flaws in some of its devices.” Of the two examples the article cited, one involved actions that occurred prior to DeParle's time with the company. As the Times explained: “Mrs. DeParle joined the Guidant board in 2001, a few days after the company told the FDA about the malfunctions with its cardiac device.”

And two others have apparently faced no formal allegations

WT reported that one investigation into DaVita Inc. was “closed ... without charges.” The Washington Times reported that while “the U.S. attorneys in Texas, New York, Georgia and Missouri have subpoenaed records from DaVita since 2004 in civil and criminal investigations,” the “U.S. attorney in New York had closed that investigation without charges” and only that “other inquiries are still pending.”

WT reported only on investigations into Boston Scientific Corp., but not of formal charges against the company. The Washington Times article reported: “Boston Scientific said in an SEC filing that it received notice in 2008 of seven federal or state investigations into its practices. In a separate inquiry, the U.S. Army requested information about the company's 'sales and marketing interactions' with doctors at an Army medical center in Tacoma, Wash.” The article made no mention of formal allegations or charges levied against the company."