Hospital system based in Springfield to pay $60 million to settle fraud allegations

CoxHealth of Springfield, one of the biggest hospital systems in the state, has agreed to pay $60 million to resolve allegations of Medicare fraud and other irregularities, authorities said. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas City said this morning that CoxHealth would pay $35 million immediately, followed by five yearly payments of $5 million, plus interest. The hospital system has also entered into a so-called corporate integrity agreement with federal authorities to ensure its compliance with Medicare and other federal requirements. The Kansas City Star reported in May that CoxHealth had agreed to the settlement, which its chief executive had disclosed in a memo to employees. The government’s inquiry, which goes back more than three years, encompassed compensation of physicians, incorrect billing for renal dialysis... [read full story]