Ex-Florida hospital chief accused of diverting $14M to fund lavish lifestyle

Former Healthcare Systems of America-Florida CEO Michael Sarian is named in a Miami-Dade lawsuit alleging he siphoned at least $14 million from HSA Florida to fund a lavish lifestyle, including a $109,000 transfer to a Beverly Hills hotel for his son’s baptism and a forged signature to divert funds. Sarian denies wrongdoing as HSA Florida, which operates five South Florida hospitals, grapples with financial distress after taking over from Steward Health Care in 2024; multi-state lawsuits and leadership clashes complicate the case.