A Maryland hospital agreed to pay $750,000 to settle claims that it was taking single cardiac perfusion scans and then billing for multiple procedures.
 
The alleged fraud at Maryland General Hospital (MGH) took place between March 2003 and December 2009, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland.
 
The allegations made under the False Claims Act also noted that evidence established that senior financial managers at MGH were made aware of the overpayments in February and August 2007 but failed to repay overbilled amounts.
 
MGH, now University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus, agreed to the settlement “to avoid the uncertainty, inconvenience and expense of protracted litigation regarding these claims.” The hospital has implemented an extensive compliance program since the time of the alleged fraud, according to a hospital statement.
 
Kenneth Creeger, a former senior financial analyst with the hospital, originally filed the case as a whistleblower complaint.
 
For tips on appropriate coding and billing for cardiac studies, turn to Cardiology Coder’s Pink Sheet.