Ky. hospital to settle allegations of false Medicare billing
Norton Hospitals has voluntarily entered a settlement to pay $782,842 to settle allegations that it submitted false claims in violation of the Federal False Claims Act, according to a statement from the office of David J. Hale, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, in Louisville, and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The United States contended that Norton Hospitals inappropriately submitted additional charges to Medicare for wound care, infusion and radiation oncology services performed in an outpatient setting, according to the settlement agreement.
Norton Hospitals allegedly submitted additional charges for separate evaluation and management services performed for patients in these settings when no such separate evaluation and management services were performed, according to the statement. The alleged overbilling covered a five-year period between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 26, 2010.
“This settlement agreement is neither an admission of liability by Norton nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded,” the statement reads.
The United States contended that Norton Hospitals inappropriately submitted additional charges to Medicare for wound care, infusion and radiation oncology services performed in an outpatient setting, according to the settlement agreement.
Norton Hospitals allegedly submitted additional charges for separate evaluation and management services performed for patients in these settings when no such separate evaluation and management services were performed, according to the statement. The alleged overbilling covered a five-year period between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 26, 2010.
“This settlement agreement is neither an admission of liability by Norton nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded,” the statement reads.