Government regulation limits the number of reimbursements for infusion of medication to one per day. However, an audit by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services found the hospitals in some cases billed the federal healthcare program for more infusions between 2002 and 2007. Avera Health based in Sioux Falls, S.D., will pay $97,000. Sanford Health, also based in Sioux Falls, S.D., will repay $9,200. Regional Health of Rapid City, S.D., will pay the government $283,000, according to the report.
Reasons for payment variation among the three health systems remain unclear.
Read the Argus Leader news report about the Medicare overbilling in South Dakota.
Read other coverage about Medicare fraud:
– New Jersey Pain Management Physician Charged With Filing $52M in Fraudulent Claims
– Simi Valley Hospital Settles Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, Agrees to Pay $5.15M
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