Four Houston-area HCA hospitals have agreed to pay $8.6 million to settle allegations that they received kickbacks from several ambulance companies in exchange for Medicare and Medicaid business referrals, federal officials said Wednesday.
Bayshore Medical Center, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, West Houston Medical Center and East Houston Regional Medical Center all allegedly made arrangements with unnamed ambulance companies to provide patients with free or heavily discounted transportation. In exchange, the HCA hospitals referred their Medicare and Medicaid business to those ambulance companies, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Source: Four HCA hospitals to pay $8.6M over alleged ambulance kickback scheme / Modern Healthcare