 |
| Lexington Herald-Leader photo |
Two years ago Saint Joseph agreed to pay the federal government $16.5 million "to resolve civil allegations that it submitted false or fraudulent
claims to the Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid programs for a variety of
medically unnecessary heart procedures" at the hospital, Wolfson notes. "St. Joseph Health System merged with Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s
HealthCare in 2012 to form KentuckyOne Health. The alleged violations
covered in the settlement were before the merger," notes Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
"Dr. Anis Chalhoub, who implanted the pacemaker in Wells, was indicted in June on criminal fraud charges of implanting the devices into patients without 'sufficient need or justification.' Federal prosecutors said the alleged crimes were related to a scheme for which another cardiologist, Dr. Sandesh Patil, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison in 2013," Wolfson reports. "He was accused of exaggerating the severity of patients' illnesses so he would be paid for treating them."
The jury in the Wells case in Laurel Circuit Court wasn’t told about Chalhoub's indictment or Patil’s conviction, Wells attorney Hans Poppe of Louisville told Wolfson. He told Estep that he expects the hospital chain to appeal.
Wells's lawsuit "was one of hundreds filed by patients who alleged they were the victims of unnecessary surgery and implantation of stents and other devices," Wolfson reports. "Two previous trials resulted in defense verdicts, but this was the first case in which the jury considered claims against the hospital, Poppe said."
"The verdict is the most recent of a series of problems that have plagued CHI and KentuckyOne Health, its Kentucky unit," Wolfson notes. "Triggered by a surgeon's complaint that University of Louisville Hospital, which KentuckyOne manages, is dangerous, a state inspection last month found that deficiencies in nursing services specifically endangered three patients. A dozen nurses and doctors also told state inspectors that nursing and other staff shortages put patients at risk." The company "said the hospital is safe and has made numerous improvements."
"Dr. Anis Chalhoub, who implanted the pacemaker in Wells, was indicted in June on criminal fraud charges of implanting the devices into patients without 'sufficient need or justification.' Federal prosecutors said the alleged crimes were related to a scheme for which another cardiologist, Dr. Sandesh Patil, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison in 2013," Wolfson reports. "He was accused of exaggerating the severity of patients' illnesses so he would be paid for treating them."
The jury in the Wells case in Laurel Circuit Court wasn’t told about Chalhoub's indictment or Patil’s conviction, Wells attorney Hans Poppe of Louisville told Wolfson. He told Estep that he expects the hospital chain to appeal.
Wells's lawsuit "was one of hundreds filed by patients who alleged they were the victims of unnecessary surgery and implantation of stents and other devices," Wolfson reports. "Two previous trials resulted in defense verdicts, but this was the first case in which the jury considered claims against the hospital, Poppe said."
"The verdict is the most recent of a series of problems that have plagued CHI and KentuckyOne Health, its Kentucky unit," Wolfson notes. "Triggered by a surgeon's complaint that University of Louisville Hospital, which KentuckyOne manages, is dangerous, a state inspection last month found that deficiencies in nursing services specifically endangered three patients. A dozen nurses and doctors also told state inspectors that nursing and other staff shortages put patients at risk." The company "said the hospital is safe and has made numerous improvements."
No comments:
Post a Comment