Government

Pediatric group settles whistle-blower lawsuit

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 16, 2006

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Pediatrix Medical Group Inc., a network of physicians that provides neonatal intensive care services in 32 states, agreed to pay $25 million to settle federal claims that the firm falsely billed Medicaid, TRICARE and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The Justice Dept. accused Pediatrix of "upcoding" claims from January 1996 through December 1999 by billing for critical care services for infants who were not critically ill.

Pediatrix denies any wrongdoing in the September agreement and said it fully cooperated with the government investigation. The case was initiated as a whistle-blower lawsuit brought by Colorado neonatologist Daniel M. Hall, MD, who will receive $1.6 million from the total federal recovery.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/10/16/gvbf1016.htm.

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