News in brief - July 21, 2003
Justice Dept. joins Medicare fraud suit against Cleveland hospitals
Justice Dept. joins Medicare fraud suit against Cleveland hospitals
The Dept. of Justice is intervening in a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging that the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland improperly billed Medicare for procedures involving experimental cardiac devices. The suit, originally filed under the False Claims Act by a former medical device salesman, alleges that millions of dollars were billed between 1990 and 1995, according to the Justice Dept.
The government has joined in 38 similar cases against hospitals across the country. Because they are so similar, the suits have been combined as multidistrict litigation, and a federal judge in Connecticut will hear all of the pretrial motions in the cases, including the ones from Cleveland. The government already has settled with 34 other hospitals for a total of more than $45 million, the Justice Dept. said.
Back to top
Copyright 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
