Weirton Medical Center settles with feds for $1.5 million
WEIRTON, W.Va. (AP) — A healthcare facility in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle has agreed to spend $1.5 million to the federal government to settle allegations that the health care centre offered economical incentives to medical professionals for referring Medicare clients there, U.S. Justice Office officers said Thursday.
Weirton Clinical Center was accused of violating the Stark Legislation, which prohibits professional medical suppliers from acquiring kickbacks or other economic incentives in exchange for referring individuals who obtain therapy paid for by federal government health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
The legislation is meant to ensure that medical determination-earning is centered on the very best interests of the patient, federal officials claimed in a push launch.
“Wellbeing care selections must be dependent on patients’ health-related wants, not physicians’ money pursuits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney Typical Brian M. Boynton, head of the Office of Justice’s Civil Division. “The section will continue to investigate monetary associations that may perhaps improperly impact physician final decision-earning.”
The settlement comes right after Weirton Clinical Center officials voluntarily disclosed potential Stark Regulation violations to federal authorities.
Weirton Healthcare Center did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
