Federal prosecutors say an Ohio hospital system and heart center will pay $4.4 million to settle allegations they improperly billed Medicare for unnecessary heart procedures. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Cleveland says that as part of the settlement a former hospital lab manager who sued over the improper billing under the federal whistleblower law will receive $661,000. Under the settlement, EMH Regional Medical Center will pay the government $3.9 million and North Ohio Heart Center will pay $542,000. Both Elyria-based companies released statements saying it's best to settle and move forward. U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach says the settlement resolves allegations that the hospital and heart center performed unnecessary heart procedures on Medicare patients between 2001 and 2006.
