U.P. Health System-Portage Responds To Medicare Fraud Settlement

Portage Hospital has agreed to pay more than $4.4 million to settle allegations that a staff physical therapist at Portage Health Home Care and Hospice had submitted false Medicare claims.

The U.S. Department of Justice says that hospital officials reported the findings to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services themselves.

According to the report, services by a staff therapist from 2006 to 2013 did not meet the qualifications for payment by Medicare.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles, Jr. says Portage Hospital is to be commended for disclosing this matter, saying self-disclosures by providers are critical to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs.

In a statement, Officials from U.P. Health System—Portage say they identified and voluntarily reported to government authorities their discoveries related to the falsified claims.

They went on to say have been fully cooperative with the government in the resolution of this matter, and have taken appropriate measures to correct the issue moving forward.

The individual is no longer an employee of the hospital.

Here is the full statement released by U.P. Health System–Portage:

UP Health System – Portage is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality care, legal compliance and integrity. This includes a commitment to accurate documentation and correctly billing Medicare for services rendered.

We reached a settlement with the Department of Justice to resolve a matter that we identified and voluntarily reported to government authorities related to home health services provided by a physical therapist between January 1, 2006, and November 30, 2013. This individual is no longer an employee of the hospital.

We have been fully cooperative with the government in the resolution of this matter, and have taken appropriate measures to correct the issue moving forward.