DoJ joins whistle-blower suit against OH MDs, hospital

The U.S. Department of Justice has added its firepower to a whistle-blower lawsuit contending that a hospital in Cincinnati was rewarding cardiologists who generated the most revenue for the hospital. The suit, which originally was filed in 2003 by cardiologist Harry Fry, contends that Cincinnati's Christ Hospital conspired together with a large cardiology group, Ohio Heart & Vascular Center, to make sure that cardiologists had access based only on how much revenue they brought in the previous year. The suit also contends that cardiologists in the group were rewarded for their collusion in this scheme with a kickback, in this case an opportunity to bill patients for diagnostic services, the DoJ says. Lawyers for the 511-bed hospital, of course, say the suit is without merit.

To learn more about the case:
- read this Modern Healthcare article (reg. req.)
- read the DoJ press release

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