Pikeville (Ky.) Medical Center has settled a whistleblower lawsuit with the federal government alleging that it improperly billed Medicare for work done in its pain management clinic, according to an Associated Press report featured in The Republic.
Whistleblower Michael Fletcher, MD, filed the suit accusing the hospital of overbilling Medicare from 2005-2007 for services in its pain management, radiation oncology and medical oncology units. Dr. Fletcher claimed the hospital used improper billing codes that indicated services were provided in a private physician’s office rather than the pain management clinic.
Pikeville did not admit any wrongdoing and paid $36,138 to settle the allegations.
Pikeville’s general counsel said it was not false claim action, criminal action or one that involved any penalties. Instead, she described the dispute as an “overbilling situation,” according to the report.
Related Articles on Hospitals and Settlements:
U Iowa Health to Settle Two Medical Malpractice Lawsuits for Combined $391k
Ohio Valley Health to Pay $3.8M for Alleged Stark Act Violations
Kentucky’s Baptist Health, Hardin Memorial to Pay Nearly $9M to Settle Claims of Improper Medicare Billing
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