El Centro (Calif.) Regional Medical Center will pay more than $1.1 million to the federal government after it self-reported that four hospital employees were listed on the Office of Inspector General exclusion-from-employment list, according to an Imperial Valley Press report.
Three nurses and one lab worker were immediately removed from their positions once the hospital discovered their status. The three employees then resolved their issues with the OIG, were removed from the exclusion list and then rehired by the hospital.
Hospitals and physicians that receive Medicare, Medi-Cal or other federal funding face penalties if they have employees on the OIG exclusion list. Exclusion can occur because of offenses related to healthcare, taxes, child support, defaulting on student loans, drug-related charges or other court convictions.
Read the Imperial Valley Press report on El Centro Regional Medical Center.
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