ATLANTA (December 21, 2007) – Saint Joseph’s Hospital announced today a settlement with the United States Department of Justice. In cooperation with the Medicare program, an audit covering more than a six-year period determined the hospital received an overpayment related to admission status. The government’s review related only to billing and reimbursement issues and did not relate in any way to the quality or type of care provided to patients at Saint Joseph’s. The hospital will pay back $26 million to Medicare, which includes interest. While a significant amount of money, the repayment will not adversely impact the hospital’s operating budget, staff or the quality of patient care in any way.
“Saint Joseph’s Hospital is committed to our community and to providing the very best patient care. We regret a mistake relating to admission status occurred. However, we are pleased that we are using this opportunity to become an industry leader,” said Kirk Wilson, CEO of Saint Joseph’s Health System. “We have enhanced the training for our staff, implemented new procedures and are making a strong commitment to prevent this from happening again.”
Staff has received advanced training on the Medicare criteria for proper admission status. Saint Joseph’s Hospital is pioneering and leading a “best practice” Case Management Protocol program with the support and cooperation of the Medicare program. This pilot program – unique in Georgia – streamlines the process of assigning patient admission status based on Medicare’s recognized guidelines. This protocol, implemented as part of the hospital’s Corporate Integrity Agreement, does not affect the quality or type of care a person receives at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
"Medicare’s complex regulations are constantly changing, making compliance – especially regarding admission status -- a challenge every hospital in America faces,” said Joseph A. Parker, President of Georgia Hospital Association. “Saint Joseph’s Hospital is a leader in patient safety and high quality care and has demonstrated its commitment to compliance.”
Founded in 1880, Saint Joseph’s Hospital is Atlanta’s oldest hospital and treats more than 28,000 inpatients and nearly 165,000 outpatients each year.
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Editor’s Note: Saint Joseph’s, the regions premier provider of cardiac and vascular services and recognized as one of the 50 top hospitals in the country, is Atlanta’s oldest hospital. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, today Saint Joseph’s is a 410-bed, acute-care hospital recognized as one of the leading specialty-referral hospitals in the Southeast. Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Joseph’s is a member of Catholic Health East. For more information, visit the website at www.saintjosephsatlanta.org.
