Caritas Carney doctors group settles with Justice

The doctors group for Caritas Carney Hospital in Dorchester will pay the federal government $347,456 to settle charges that it submitted inflated claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare, the health system for the military. Caritas Carney Medical Group submitted doctor provider numbers for services that were performed by nurse practitioners, the Department of Justice said. By making the claims appear as though doctors had provided the services, the group was able to seek more money. The allegedly fraudulent claims were for services provided at local nursing homes between 2000 and 2006. As part of the agreement, in which the group does not admit liability, the inspector general for the US Department of Health and Human Services will oversee the Carney doctors for three years. Caritas Carney is part of Caritas Christi Health System, a six-hospital chain owned by the Archdiocese of Boston. (Jeffrey Krasner)

Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., the Cambridge biotech bought by Takeda Pharmaceutical three months ago, plans to hire 100 to 200 workers by year-end, mostly in Massachusetts, said Stephen Gansler, senior vice president of human resources. Millennium, which markets the cancer treatment Velcade, currently has about 1,000 employees, including 850 in Massachusetts. (Todd Wallack)

Governor Deval Patrick appointed four people to the governing board of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. The nine-member board, established under the recently passed Green Communities Act, is charged with overseeing efforts to expand the state's renewable power generation. The appointees, who will serve three-year terms, are: Martin E. Aikens, an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers business agent; Paul F. Nace, chief executive of Econox Technologies, a Newton combustion efficiency technology company; Linda S. Plano, associate director at the University of Massachusetts' technology transfer center; and Jennifer Zschokke, vice president for sustainable development at National Grid. (Erin Ailworth)

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority said recent state legislation will allow work to begin on the construction of 20,000 square feet of restaurant space at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center. The construction is part of an $18 million renovation plan for the Hynes and will take about six months to complete, the authority said, and will not interrupt or negatively impact convention bookings or business. (Chris Reidy)

Ben & Jerry's is pulling the plug on its scoop shop in Montpelier, Vt. The ice cream maker said it's closing the store next month, after more than 20 years in business. The ice cream maker says it's not that the store was doing badly, it's just that it's small and in a small city, with much less volume than other stores. (AP)

Some airlines have begun waiving expensive baggage fees for military personnel on official travel when they carry heavy duffel bags stuffed with combat gear. Faced with criticism from veterans groups and others that the fees are a financial burden, several airlines have made exceptions for service members. AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Northwest Airlines said they were waiving all or most of their baggage fees for active members of the US military on official travel. American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Horizon Air began waiving the fees to check a third bag for active service members. (AP)

Sprinkles Cupcakes, a California purveyor of minicakes, has accused Famous Cupcakes of stealing its trademarked "Modern Dot" cupcake design to lure away clientele. Sprinkles accused Famous Cupcakes in a federal lawsuit filed in Los Angeles of incorporating Sprinkles' "nested circle design" on Famous Cupcakes packaging, store decor, and "each and every page" of its website. Unlike other cupcake imitators who ceased using "Modern Dot" after being warned by Sprinkles, Famous Cupcakes has not responded to repeated requests to stop, the lawsuit said. (Reuters)