Former hospital exec indicted

FORT MYERS — A federal grand jury indicted former Health Management Associates executive Joshua Putter, 48, charging him with obstructing an investigation.

Putter allegedly falsified a document with the intent to impede an investigation into Naples-based hospital operator HMA. The company operates 71 hospitals and has disclosed in regulatory filings that it has been subject to federal investigations into billing practices.

If convicted, Putter could face as long as 20 years in prison, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's office.

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently approved a request for shareholders to vote on the $7.6 billion acquisition of HMA by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. The federal investigations into HMA are not expected to interfere with the deal, which is scheduled to be completed early next year.