Local hospital settles federal case

Note from unhappygrammy-It's funny how the U.S. Attorney's office will go after the hospital for the federal government, but not for patients.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/594826-196/local-hospital-settles-federal-case.html

Local hospital settles federal case
NASHUA – Southern New Hampshire Medical Center paid a $33,400 settlement to close a federal investigation that alleged the hospital improperly paid an employee through federal health care programs.
The U.S. Attorney’s office announced Wednesday that Southern New Hampshire didn’t admit liability with the civil settlement, but paid $33,400 to resolve allegations it had violated the False Claims Act.
From February 2002 to September 2007, the hospital employed a licensed nursing assistant through various temporary employment agencies, the U.S. Attorney’s office charged.
The employee, who was not named, allegedly performed services at the hospital that were paid for, in part, by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs.
Because the employee had been “excluded” from federal health care programs, Southern New Hampshire was not entitled to receive payments from them, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
The nursing assistant was also employed by Premier Medical Staffing, a New Hampshire corporation, and allegedly conducted similar services. Premier also settled with the government – paying $90,000 – without admitting liability, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
– Albert McKeon