Tenet Healthcare Corp., one of the nation’s largest hospital chains and operator of the 396-bed Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, has agreed to pay the United States more than $900 million to resolve a handful of so-called “whistleblower” lawsuits charging that it knowingly submitted false claims to federal health insurance programs over the past decade. The Dallas-based company has been the subject of several investigations and civil suits concerning Tenet’s billings to Medicare and other health care programs. More than $47 million will be paid to resolve charges that Tenet paid kickbacks to doctors to get Medicare patients referred to its facilities. The payment equates to $725 million over four years plus interest. Some of the allegations arose from lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the terms of the False Claims Act. Tenet owns 73 hospitals in 13 states and acquired Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center in 1993.

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Chatsworth-based health care company North American Scientific Inc. announced Wednesday that it has received notice from the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. granting North its request to continue to be listed on the stock exchange. The listing is contingent upon North American’s filing of Form 10-Q for the quarter ending July 31 showing that its shareholders’ equity is more than $10 million. North American must also contends its 10-Q will meet the requirements based on the closing of a $24 million private placement of its common stock.

A car chase stunt and explosion inspired by the film “Fast & Furious” are now part of the studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. The sequence gives tourists an up-close look at the world of underground street racing, complete with burning rubber, pyrotechnics and specially outfitted robotic Volkswagen racing cars. The new element is part of an overhaul of the park’s iconic tram tour, which has taken more than 125 million visitors through the studio’s working back lot since it premiered in 1964. Other new features include sets from “Crossing Jordan” and “CSI,” along with narration from Whoopi Goldberg and Al Roker. Last year, the tour added the original plane crash set used in “War of the Worlds.”

By Chris Coates Staff Writer Citing a lack of space and overcrowded conditions at its headquarters, the biotech firm Amgen plans to move some of its Thousand Oaks administrative staff to a site in Colorado. Amgen spokeswoman Ashleigh Koss said departments affected include human resources, information systems and finance, although no specific numbers have been set. She said the company has outgrown its sprawling, 194-acre campus in Thousand Oaks, where the molecular researcher and medicine manufacturer was founded in 1980. “Our company is growing quite rapidly,” she said. “Here in Thousand Oaks, we’ve hit our maximum.” The moves are scheduled to happen over the next two years. Amgen has operated a manufacturing center Longmont near Boulder, Colo., since 1999. A new building on the campus is set to break ground next year, with completion slated for 2008. Amgen, with 2005 revenues totaling $12.4 billion, has seven facilities in the U.S. and 17,000 employees worldwide.

Valley Economic Development Center, All About Business Loans 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Burbank Police Community Room, 200 N. Third St., Burbank $10 for Burbank Residents/Business Owners, $15 for Non-Residents Contact (818) 238-5198

Semiconductor manufacturer Vitesse will no longer be listed on the Nasdaq National Market beginning June 28, the company has announced. The Camarillo-based manufacturer meets all other listing requirements except the ability to file financial statements, the company said. Vitesse believes that its common stock will trade in the Pink Sheets beginning June 28 as well as has been informed that certain market makers will continue to make a market in Vitesse stock. Vitesse failed to meet the May 10 deadline to file financial statements for the quarter ending March 31 due to an ongoing investigation by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors. Vitesse is under investigation by federal prosecutors in New York State and by the Securities and Exchange Commission over the granting of stock options.

The Woodland Hills-based managed health care company Health Net Inc. has started a series of transactions to refinance its $400 million Senior Notes due 2011. Health Net entered into a bridge loan facility with the Bank of Nova Scotia and Morgan Chase Bank to provide an aggregate of $500 million of gross proceeds, which the company used to purchase U.S. Treasury securities. It then used the securities as collateral to secure the Senior Notes and to provide sufficient funds to make all of the remaining principal and interest payments. Health Net serves about 6.6 million clients in the U.S. and is one of the country’s largest publicly traded managed health care company.

Move Inc., formerly Homestore, named Geraldine Laybourne to its board of directors, bringing 11 to the number of directors for the company. Laybourne founded Oxygen Media in 1998. Prior to that she was at Nickelodeon. California State Teachers Association, which was lead plaintiff in the shareholder class action suit against Homestore, was also involved in the decision.

Image Entertainment, Inc. reported Wednesday for the fourth quarter of the 2006 fiscal year ending March 31, a net loss of $283,000 or $0.01 per share on revenues of $30.4 million. For the same reporting period in 2005, the Chatsworth-based independent distributor and producer of home entertainment had net earnings of $1.1 million or $0.05 per share on revenues of $28.9 million. Image also reported a net loss of $207,000 or $0.01 per share on revenues of $111.9 million for its 2006 fiscal year that ended March 31, a drop compared to net earnings for the 2005 fiscal year of $5.1 million or $0.27 per share on revenues of $118.3 million. Image President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Greenwald explained the company’s poor performance in the fourth quarter was due to higher market development costs as Image expanded its retail reach, a larger percentage of sales from higher profile but lower margin titles, and the filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy by Musicland, a top 10 customer for Image titles. “Looking ahead, we’re optimistic about Image’s future and remain committed to growing our revenues and achieving consistent profitability,” Greenwald said. “Our exclusive library is stronger than it has ever been and we are presented with more opportunities for new programming on a daily basis.”