WESTON, Fla., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Cleveland Clinic Florida Hospital has paid the U.S. government $2.75 million to settle allegations the hospital billed Medicare for non-qualifying patients.
The Weston, Fla., hospital ceased operations June 30, 2001, but parent company Cleveland Clinic Foundation continues operations in the city, the South Florida Business Journal reported Monday.
The settlement resolved U.S. government allegations Cleveland Clinic Florida Hospital failed to comply with Medicare coverage requirements from 1993 to 2001. The settlement specifically responded to allegations Cleveland Clinic frequently billed Medicare for extra observation charges during normal recovery periods following minor surgery or emergency room visits.
Medicare rules state the cost for monitoring a patient's status is built into the total cost of a procedure. Special criteria, such as unexpected complications, must be met to claim additional "observation" charges.
A Cleveland Clinic spokeswoman said the company has not admitted any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay to avoid a lengthy legal battle over recently clarified Medicare billing rules.
