Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
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Although most physicians know that they can’t collect cash for hospital referrals, one New Jersey cardiology group seems to have violated the golden rule—and the hospital will pay dearly for that infraction.
A hospital in N.J. paid $435,640 last week to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying rental fees that were above fair market value to a cardiology group that referred a “significant” number of patients to the facility.
“Making inflated rental payments to induce referrals is no better than slipping a doctor an envelope stuffed with cash,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in an April 30 statement. “Kickback arrangements undermine the physician-patient relationship and can lead to unnecessary treatment and higher costs. There is no room in our healthcare system for hospitals that abuse federal health care programs to boost their bottom line.”
To read the complete report, visit www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/Somerset Medical Center Settlement PR.html.
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