The following healthcare organizations entered into settlement agreements to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act since Jan. 1.
1. Boston Medical Center to pay $1.1M over billing errors
Boston Medical Center and two of its physician practices agreed to pay $1.1 million to resolve allegations that BMC improperly billed Medicaid and Medicare. The allegations were originally brought by Kathleen Haffernan, BMC's former chief compliance officer, under the whistle-blower provision of the False Claims Act.
2. 21st Century Oncology to pay $34.7M to settle false claims allegations
Fort Myers, Fla.-based 21st Century Oncology, the nation's largest physician-led integrated cancer care provider, agreed to pay the federal government $34.7 million to resolve allegations it performed and billed for procedures that were not medically necessary. The claims against 21st Century Oncology were originally brought under the whistle-blower provision of the False Claims Act by a former physicist at South Florida Radiation Oncology.
3. 51 hospitals pay $23M for alleged overuse of cardiac devices
The Department of Justice inked a deal for more than $23 million with 51 hospitals across the nation — including Cleveland Clinic and San Francisco-based Dignity Health hospitals — to settle False Claims Act allegations related to the implantation of cardiac devices in Medicare patients.
4. Adventist Health System to pay $2M for allegedly giving leftover chemo to patients
Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare agreed to pay the federal government $2.09 million to resolve allegations that patients at one of its hospitals were administered leftover portions of single-dose vials of chemotherapy drugs. Adventist self-disclosed some of the improper acts to the federal government, and a former Adventist employee brought the remaining allegations in a whistle-blower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act.
5. Rose Radiology settles false claims allegations for $8.7M
Rose Radiology Centers in Tampa, Fla., agreed to pay the federal government $8.71 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act.
6. Norwalk Hospital to pay nearly $920k to settle false claims allegations
Norwalk Hospital in Fairfield County, Conn., agreed to pay the federal government $920,000 to settle accusations that it falsely billed Medicare while treating patients for osteoporosis.
7. Memorial University Medical Center reaches $9.89M false billing settlement
Memorial Health University Medical Center and its affiliates in Savannah, Ga., agreed to pay more than $9.89 million to settle unlawful referral allegations brought under the whistle-blower provision of the False Claims Act.
8. Kindred Healthcare to pay $125M in false claims settlement
Kindred Healthcare — the largest home therapy care provider in the U.S. — agreed to pay the federal government $125 million to settle allegations it knowingly allowed skilled nursing facilities to submit false claims to Medicare.
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