Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Georgia's Second-Largest Hospital To Settle Medicare Fraud Case For $20 Million
Georgia Health News: Macon Hospital To Pay $20 Million In Billing Case
A Macon hospital has agreed to pay $20 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by overcharging Medicare on patient admissions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia said that from 2004 to 2008, the Medical Center of Central Georgia billed Medicare for inpatient services when the billing should have been for less costly outpatient or observation services. (Miller, 4/27)
The Atlanta-Journal Constitution: Georgia Hospital To Pay $20 Million To Settle False Claims Case
The Macon-based Medical Center of Central Georgia, the second largest hospital in the state, will pay $20 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for more expensive inpatient services instead of less costly outpatient or observation services, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Federal authorities allege that from 2004 to 2008 the hospital “knowingly” charged Medicare for “medically unnecessary inpatient admissions when the care provided should have been billed as less costly outpatient or observation services. (Markiewicz, 4/27)
The Associated Press: Ga. Hospital Agrees To $20M False Billing Settlement
Federal prosecutors say a central Georgia hospital system has agreed to a multimillion dollar settlement to resolve allegations of fraudulent Medicare billing. Authorities say the Medical Center of Central Georgia has agreed to pay $20 million to settle claims that it billed Medicare for services that were more expensive than what the hospital should have been billing for between 2004 and 2008. (4/27)
