Halifax Hospital Medical Center and Halifax Staffing Inc. (Halifax), a Florida-based hospital system, agreed to pay $85 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by engaging in improper physician compensation deals. According to the allegations, Halifax paid doctors above-market rates and handed out incentive bonuses depending on the value of Medicare services billed. Halifax also agreed to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the HHS OIG.

The allegations originate from a whistleblower complaint filed by Elin Baklid-Kunz, a former compliance officer and current employee at the hospital. Baklid-Kunz will receive $20.8 million of the settlement.

Read the entire press release, “Florida Hospital System Agrees to Pay the Government $ 85 Million to Settle Allegations of Improper Financial Relationships with Referring Physicians”
Read our earlier posts on the case, “U.S. Partially Intervenes Against Halifax Hospital” and “Details in Halifax Hospital Case”