Easton (Pa.) Hospital has agreed to pay $662,000 to resolve allegations the hospital violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for procedures that were not performed, were only partially completed, or were medically unnecessary, according to the Department of Justice.
In the lawsuit, the government alleged the improper claims the 254-bed hospital submitted to Medicare were for procedures performed by Thomas Walden, MD. The procedures included lithotripsy, cystometrogram and transurethral resection of the prostate, among others.
The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam, or whistle-blower, provisions of the False Claims Act by two Easton Hospital employees.
"We are pleased to have reached this settlement with the U.S Department of Justice and have cooperated fully in the investigation," said the hospital in a statement. "As part of our compliance program, we voluntarily repaid certain Medicare claims prior to the government's investigation. The physician who was responsible for the claims resolved in this settlement has not been affiliated with EastonHospital since June 2010."
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