HUTCHINSON — Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has agreed to pay nearly $854,000 to the federal government to settle allegations that the hospital submitted false claims to the Medicare program. The payment is in addition to other refunds the hospital paid to the Medicare program, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. The payments to the federal government total over $1.7 million, he said. The hospital also signed a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he said. The settlement resolves allegations concerning the hospital’s claims to Medicare for hyperbaric oxygen wound therapy services. The procedure involves placing a patient’s entire body in an hyperbaric oxygen chamber under high pressure. Federal regulators say the hospital submitted Medicare claims for hyperbaric therapy that wasn’t necessary or didn’t have correct documentation. Regulators also said the hospital had a kickback arrangement with at least one doctor, and the company that supplied the chambers. The hospital denies the allegations and doesn’t admit any wrongdoing, Grissom said.
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 4 p.m.
