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Press Release

UConn Health Center Pays $184,984 to the Federal Government to Settle Overbilling Allegations

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CENTER (“UConn Health”) has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal government in which it will pay $184,984 to resolve allegations that it overbilled the Medicare Program.

The government alleges that UConn Health improperly submitted claims to Medicare for certain wound closure procedures.  Specifically, the government alleges that UConn Health submitted claims using codes for higher paying wound closure procedures, rather than using codes for the lower paying wound closure procedures that were actually performed.  By coding the wound closure procedures improperly, UConn Health received payments from Medicare that it was not entitled to receive.

UConn Health agreed to pay $184,984 to resolve its liability for conduct that occurred from January 1, 2011, to June 2, 2016.

“Providers who bill Medicare must follow the relevant coding rules when submitting claims and the failure to do so will have serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Daly.  “The U.S. Attorney’s office will vigorously pursue health care providers who receive payments from Medicare that they are not entitled to receive.” 

This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot and Auditor Susan Spiegel.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 777-6311.

Updated September 15, 2016

Topic
Health Care Fraud