Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health has agreed to pay $1.5 million to address accusations of breaching the False Claims Act.
The health system allegedly prompted its subsidiaries to provide discounts up to 50% or more to patients, aiming to incentivize them to acquire or recommend Baptist Health services covered by federal healthcare programs, according to a May 6 Justice Department news release.
Between Jan. 1, 2016, and Aug. 15, 2022, Baptist Health allegedly offered discounts to specific Medicare patients, chosen by Baptist Health, regardless of their financial situation. The Justice Department said these discounts were given to encourage these patients to use or recommend Baptist Health's services.
The Anti-Kickback Statute states that individuals in federal healthcare programs cannot get paid for sending others to receive healthcare for which the government pays.
Baptist Health disclosed this conduct to the U.S., cooperated with the government's inquiry and implemented corrective actions. These actions include ending its discount policy, reviewing its internal compliance procedures and giving the U.S. a detailed disclosure statement and additional information to help with the investigation.