{"id":18441,"date":"2015-12-18T11:59:31","date_gmt":"2015-12-18T19:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=18441"},"modified":"2015-12-18T11:59:31","modified_gmt":"2015-12-18T19:59:31","slug":"dea-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=18441","title":{"rendered":"32 Hospitals in 15 States to Pay More Than $28 Million for Falsely Billing Medicare"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Thirty-two hospitals located throughout 15 states have agreed to pay the federal government more than $28 million to settle allegations that the health care facilities submitted false claims to Medicare for minimally-invasive \"Justice-Depart\"<\/a>kyphoplasty procedures,<\/strong> the Justice Department announced today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyphoplasty<\/strong> is a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat certain spinal fractures that often are due to osteoporosis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Justice Department officials said they already reached settlements with more than 130 hospitals totaling approximately $105 million to resolve allegations that they inaccurately charged Medicare for kyphoplasty procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n

The case was brought to light by a whistleblower under the federal False Claims Act,<\/strong> according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

In many cases, officials said the procedure can be performed safely and effectively as an outpatient procedure without any need for a more costly inpatient hospital admission.<\/span><\/p>\n

The settlements announced today resolve allegations that the 32 settling hospitals frequently billed Medicare for kyphoplasty procedures on a more costly inpatient basis, rather than an outpatient basis, in order to increase their Medicare billings, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCharging the government for higher cost inpatient services that patients do not need wastes the country\u2019s vital health care dollars,\u201d said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department\u2019s Civil Division.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cThe Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that Medicare funds are expended appropriately, based on the medical needs of patients rather than the desire to maximize hospital profits.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The settling facilities and the amounts they have agreed to pay, include the following:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n