UC Settles Medicare Dispute.

The University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). system has agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle charges that physicians at teaching hospitals at UCLA and four other campuses overbilled the government in filing Medicare claims.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the payment is to compensate for overcharges for physician services at the medical centers between 1994 and 1998.

The university denied any wrongdoing wrong·do·er
n.
One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically.

wrongdo in the 13-page settlement, saying it agreed to the settlement only to avoid prolonged and costly litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute.

When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. after spending about $15 million on auditors and defense attorneys during the four-year. federal investigation.

The settlement is among the largest under a national crackdown by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979
Health and Human Services, HHS on teaching hospitals that allegedly billed the government for faculty physicians' services when medical residents actually did the work.

UC's five medical centers have a month to pay the $22.5 million. UCLA Medical Center UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. It is rated as one of the top three hospitals in the United States and is the top hospital on the West Coast according to US News & World Report. owes the largest share, $8.5 million. Officials said the financial burden will be spread among 16 clinical departments.

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Publication:	Los Angeles Business Journal
Article Type:	Brief Article
Geographic Code:	1USA
Date:	Feb 12, 2001
Words:	168
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