Feds' settlement with Sutter over kickback, billing allegations now totals $46 million
One day after officials announced a $30.5 million settlement with Sutter Health over kickback allegations, prosecutors in Sacramento revealed the health care giant had agreed to pay an additional $15 million over claims submitted to the federal Medicare program.
U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott announced Friday in Sacramento that Sutter had agreed to pay $15,117,516 “to resolve conduct concerning violations of the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law, as well as double-billing for certain services.”
“The Stark Law prohibits a hospital from billing Medicare for certain services referred by physicians with whom the hospital has a financial relationship, unless that relationship satisfies one of the law’s statutory or regulatory exceptions,” Scott’s office said, adding that the “conduct at issue was self-disclosed by Sutter to the United States.”
“The law is intended to ensure that medical decision-making is not influenced by improper financial incentives and is instead based on the best interests of the patient,” Scott’s office said.
Read more: https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article237412749.html
(Sacramento Bee)
