Phoenix-based Neurosurgical Associates and Dignity Health's St. Joseph's Hospital agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of improper billings.
The organizations allegedly billed Medicare for "certain doubly and triply concurrent and overlapping surgeries" that violated federal regulations and reimbursement policies, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a May 5 news release.
Per terms of the settlement, Neurosurgical Associates entered into a corporate integrity agreement with HHS that requires the practice to maintain a compliance program, install a risk assessment program and hire an independent review organization to review its Medicare and Medicaid claims.
Anesthesiologist Bruce Kingsley, MD, filed the lawsuit in 2018 under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act. The provision allows any individual to bring civil actions on behalf of the federal government and share in any recovery obtained.