FL system settles federal claim over MD overpayments

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Baptist Health South Florida has agreed to pay the federal government $7.75 million to settle allegations that it paid an oncology group excessive compensation to generate referrals for two of its hospitals.The payments flowed out of a contract under which the Oncology Hematology Group of South Florida provided radiation-related services to the Baptist Hospital of Miami and South Miami Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

The deal comes from voluntary disclosures by Baptist Health, which discovered, investigated and voluntarily disclosed the overpayment to the Department of Justice. Since discovering the problem, the system has bolstered its screens to make sure such overpayments can't take place again, according to CEO Brian Keeley.

To learn more about the settlements:
- read this piece in The Miami Herald

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