The owners and operators of University Health Hospital in Shreveport, La., have reached a half-million dollar settlement to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and other laws, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
The federal government said Sept. 26 that Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana and its related companies, and the board of supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College will pay $531,241.74 in damages and/or civil penalties to resolve the claims.
Prosecutors alleged Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana and LSU sought and received Medicare reimbursement for procedures involving implantable automatic defibrillators that they failed to report to a qualified registry.
A 2005 Medicare coverage expansion required that the procedures that involved the electronic devices be studied and examined through data submitted to qualified registries, according to the Justice Department.
The department said the effort is designed to help CMS continue to monitor the effects of its coverage decisions and ensure Medicare patients receive safe and quality care.
The half-million dollar settlement resolves allegations initially brought in a whistleblower lawsuit.
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