HHS' Office of Inspector General has subpoenaed the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City as part of an investigation into Medicare and Medicaid false claims, reports The Gazette.
HHS reportedly sent UIHC CEO Ken Kates a letter in early April asking for documents related to federal healthcare program claims, the university's Epic EHR, patient questionnaires, patient system checks and revenue generated by physicians, according to the report.
The requested records also included medical records for nine pages of federal health plan beneficiaries, including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and personnel files for hospital employees, according to the report. Requested documents date back to Jan. 1, 2000.
"The University of Iowa is cooperating fully with the OIG's review and remains committed to the full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations," UIHC spokesman Tom Moore told The Gazette.
OIG investigated UIHC in 2012 for Medicare compliance related to inpatient claims in 2009 and 2010. The health system was found to have complied with 31 percent of audited Medicare billing requirements, according to the report. At that time, OIG determined the hospital did not have adequate controls to prevent incorrect billing of Medicare claims.
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