Hospitals helping doctors
McAllen Hospitals L.P., d/b/a/ South Texas Health System agreed to pay $27,5 million to settle claims of illegal compensation to doctors in order to induce them to refer patients to hospitals within the group. More patients, more profits for the Group. Who cares what would be the best care provider for the patient? As more politically formulated by the Assistant Attorney General: “Improper financial relationships between health care providers and their referral sources can corrupt a physician’s judgment about the patient’s true healthcare needs”.
The government alleged that these payments were disguised through a series of sham contracts, including medical directorships and lease agreements. Under the Stark Statute, Medicare providers are prohibited from billing Medicare for referrals from doctors with whom the providers have a financial relationship, unless that relationship falls within certain exceptions.
Even in (US) health care it seems to be all about the money..
