Investigative reporting outlet California Watch claims Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services has increased its profits by extending patients’ length of stay and overstating their level of illness for economic reasons.
The investigation includes testimonies from former Prime employees, who allege the system and Dr. Reddy exacerbated the recorded conditions of Medicare patients to increase admissions and reimbursement. Patients and patients’ relatives have also contributed testimonies of aggressive admission practices at Prime hospitals. One woman, who calls Prime the “Twilight Zone,” claims Prime dismissed her requests to transfer her grandmother to another hospital so she could see her own physician.
In a statement released in response to the allegations, Prime says California Watch continues to “rely on manipulated data” fed by the Service Employees International Union to “publish fraudulent and defamatory statements” about the system. Prime has commenced litigation against California Watch.
Read California Watch’s claims against Prime Healthcare.
Read Prime Healthcare’s response to California Watch.
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