Top 10 Hospital News Stories for June

Tags: CEO | kickbacks | Medicare fraud | New Jersey | slander

1. 53 People Indicted for Detroit-Based Medicare Fraud Schemes — Fifty-three physicians, healthcare executives and beneficiaries were indicted in Detroit-based Medicare fraud schemes, which are estimated to have cost Medicare $50 million.

2. Louisiana Cardiologist Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Healthcare Fraud — Mehmood Patel, MD, a cardiologist from Lafayette, La., was sentenced to 10 years in prison for healthcare fraud after performing unnecessary procedures and billing Medicare.

3. Former Los Angeles Hospital Owner Pleads Guilty to Paying Kickbacks — Robert Bourseau, the former co-owner and chairman of the board of the City of Angels Medical Center in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to paying illegal kickbacks for patient referrals.

4. Patients Angry Over New Fees on Cleveland Clinic Outpatient Bills — Patients of the Cleveland Clinic and its affiliated outpatient facilities are upset over new facility fees that have been added to their bills for outpatient services.

5. Horizon Blue Cross Files Two Lawsuits Against New Jersey Hospitals for Out-of-Network, Fraudulent Billing Practices — Horizon BCBS of New Jersey filed two lawsuits over billing practices — one against Bayonne Medical Center for charging inflated fees and one against Newton Memorial Hospital for barring Horizon from contacting its members about less expensive services.

6. New Jersey Hospital Sues Virtua for Slander — Deborah Heart & Lung Center in Brown Mills, N.J., accused Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mt. Holly, N.J., and four cardiologists from The Cardiology Group of slander and unfair competition.

7. Wyoming Hospital Fires CEO — James P. Schuessler, president of St. John's Medical Center in Jackson Hole, Wyo., was ousted by the hospital's board of trustees.

8. Hawaii Hospital Settles False Claims Lawsuits for $2.5M — The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle two whistle-blower lawsuits that alleged the hospital overbilled government healthcare programs for prescription medications.

9. Illinois Hospital CEO Resigns — David Stark, CEO of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., resigned his position after only five months on the job.

10. Hackensack University Medical Center President Resigns Amid Scandal — John Ferguson resigned as president of the Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center amid allegations of corruption.

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