Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health has settled federal healthcare fraud charges brought on by a whistleblower lawsuit filed by orthopedic surgeon Michael Reilly, MD, according to a Miami Herald report.
Here are seven things to know:
1. Dr. Reilly alleged in his lawsuit that the health system violated Stark Law.
2. According to the suit, the health system gave a group of physicians' employment contracts and paid them more than fair market value based on their ability to increase patient referrals.
3. Additionally, physicians were penalized for referring uninsured patients.
4. Mr. Reilly says that he first learnt of the improper financial relationship between physicians and the hospital in 2000. Since then, he alerted the hospital's board several times.
5. A federal investigation was launched in 2010, after Dr. Reilly filed the whistleblower suit.
6. Broward Health has paid $69.5 million to the U.S. Department of Justice to settle the fraud charges.
7. Dr. Reilly will receive $12 million from the financial recovery, according to the report.