HCA, LifePoint Settle False Medicare Claims

HCA’s Summit Medical Center in Hermitage is listed as one of the hospitals involved in the Justice Department settlement. Credit: HCA TriStar

The Justice Department has announced $34 million in fines against 55 hospitals for allegedly making false Medicare claims. Half of them are part of Nashville-based, for-profit hospital chains.

HCA has agreed to pay more than $7 million in fines with 23 hospitals participating in the settlement agreement. LifePoint has half a dozen hospitals involved and a $2.5 million penalty. Per hospital, the fines are far less than some involved in the settlement. A single Ohio facility agreed to pay $4.2 million.

They’re accused of conducting minimally invasive surgeries to treat osteoporosis, but billing for an inpatient stay, rather than the less expensive outpatient procedure. The settlement is a result of a whistle blower lawsuit.

HCA hospitals involved – Aventura Hospital & Medical Center (Aventura, FL); Capital Regional Medical Center (Tallahassee, FL); Coliseum Medical Center (Macon, GA); Coliseum Northside Hospital (Macon, GA); Conroe Regional Medical Center (Conroe, TX); Denton Regional Medical Center (Denton, TX); Doctors Hospital of Sarasota (Sarasota, FL); Edmond Regional Medical Center (Edmond, OK); Fawcett Memorial Hospital (Port Charlotte, FL); Fort Walton Beach Medical Center (Fort Walton Beach, FL); Garden Park Medical Center (Gulf Port, MS); JFK Medical Center (Atlantis, FL); Los Robles Regional Medical Center (Thousand Oaks, CA); North Florida Regional Medical Center (Gainesville, FL); Northlake Medical Center (Tucker, GA); Oklahoma University Medical Center (Oklahoma City, OK);  Palmyra Medical Center (Albany, GA); Redmond Regional Medical Center (Rome, GA); Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center (Fort Myers, FL); St. Lucie Medical Center (Port Saint Lucie, FL); Summit Medical Center (Hermitage, TN); Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center (Las Vegas, NV); and Wesley Medical Center (Wichita, KS).

LifePoint hospitals involved – Andalusia Regional Hospital (Andalusia, AL); Jackson Purchase Medical Center (Mayfield, KY); Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital (Somerset, KY); Minden Medical Center (Minden, LA); Russellville Hospital (Russellville, AL); and Western Plains Medical Complex (Dodge City, KS).