UConn Health Center Settles Claim With Federal Government

FARMINGTON, CT — The University of Connecticut Health Center 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.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said 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, Daly said.

“Providers who bill Medicare must follow the relevant coding rules when submitting claims and the failure to do so will have serious consequences,” said 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.”

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.

Photo credit: health.dev.uconn.edu