Mercy Hospital Inc. (d/b/a Mercy Medical Center) of Springfield, Mass., has agreed to pay the United States $2,799,462 to settle claims that it violated the False Claims Act between 2005 and 2006 by failing to provide, or failing to document that it provided, the minimum number of hours of rehabilitation therapy required under Medicare guidelines, the Justice Department announced today.
Under Medicare, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals must provide a minimum amount of rehabilitative therapy to their patients. In June 2007, Mercy disclosed to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General that it could not demonstrate that it had provided the required level of therapy. The settlement announced today resulted from the company's disclosure.
"This settlement demonstrates the Justice Department's commitment to ensuring that Medicare patients get all of the care that Medicare pays for," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. "As this settlement shows, those who come forward to disclose their violations and cooperate with the government will be dealt with fairly."