Hospitals on notice

WakeMed is being investigated for fraud for charging Medicare for overnight care for patients who were treated and released the same day.

Judge Terrence Boyle threw out a proposed settlement for $8 million as a “slap on the hand.” How is this fraud any different from hospitals charging exorbitant in-patient prices for doctor’s office visits in practices controlled by the hospital?

Beware, greedy hospitals. It’s only a matter of time before this egregious practice is itself the basis for a lawsuit or prosecution for fraud.

Chris Brockman, Franklinton