Justice Department Joins Lawsuit Accusing Calif. Hospital Chain Of Improper Medicare Billing
The federal agency is joining a whistleblower in alleging that Prime Healthcare Services overbilled Medicare by improperly admitting patients.
Los Angeles Times:
Justice Department Accuses Ontario-Based Hospital Chain Of Cheating Medicare System
The U.S. Justice Department has joined a whistle-blower case against Prime Healthcare Services, adding significant weight to allegations of widespread Medicare overbilling at 14 of the company’s hospitals in California. A Los Angeles magistrate judge granted the agency’s request to intervene in the case Tuesday, one day after the government declared in a court filing that its investigation of the Ontario- hospital operator has “yielded sufficient evidence” that the facilities “submitted or caused the submission of claims to Medicare for unnecessary inpatient stays.” (Sisson, 5/25)
The Wall Street Journal:
DOJ Joining Lawsuit Against Prime Healthcare Services Alleging Medicare Fraud
The Justice Department said it is joining a lawsuit against Prime Healthcare Services and its chief executive that alleges Prime hospitals improperly admitted patients for care and submitted false claims to Medicare. The lawsuit was first brought in 2011. On Wednesday a federal judge granted a Justice Department request to join the case. Troy Schell, general counsel for the Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services, said in a statement the company’s officials believe it will be exonerated. (Evans, 5/25)