Deaconess paying $2.1 million to settle lawsuit over Medicare fraud
EVANSVILLE — Deaconess Hospital has agreed to pay the federal government $2.1 million to settle a whistle-blower lawsuit over allegations of Medicare fraud. The lawsuit alleged Deaconess deliberately overcharged Medicare for a routine back surgery procedure called kyphoplasty by keeping patients overnight and classifying the surgery as inpatient. Deaconess officials said Tuesday the…