Hospitals pay $28 million to settle false claims allegations

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with 32 hospitals in 15 states to resolve allegations that they mischarged Medicare for kyphoplasty procedures. The hospitals will pay more than $28 million to settle claims that they billed Medicare for the minimally-invasive procedure to treat spinal fractures on the more costly inpatient basis instead of an outpatient basis.

To date, the Justice Department has reached settlements with more than 130 hospitals over allegations of mischarged kyphoplasty procedures, totaling about $105 million. 

Source: The U.S. Department of Justice