Hall, Render, Killian, Heath and Lyman is pleased to announce settlement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), resulting in the largest Medicare payment settlement in history.
Hall Render and Baker Healthcare represented approximately half of the more than two thousand U.S. hospitals involved in this settlement. The dispute centered on a payment calculation error made by CMS, resulting in annual underpayments to those hospitals for 11 years. The error was the subject of a favorable decision on the issue (argued by another firm) at the United States Court of Appeals in Cape Cod Hospital et. al. v. Sebelius, in January of last year. The Court of Appeals determined that CMS had underpaid hospitals, in violation of the Medicare statute.
This milestone settlement will result in payments to participating hospitals for the outstanding amounts to be made by June 30, 2012. Receipt of back payments will allow these hospitals to continue to serve their communities in the current difficult financial environment.
Hall Render and Baker Healthcare collaborated with over 25 state hospital associations and other sponsoring entities, leading to the formation of hundreds of administrative appeals for this issue. Finalizing this payment settlement allows clients to continue to provide quality care for their patients. As a leading firm in Medicare and Medicaid payment law and regulations, Hall Render is proud to have the opportunity to assist clients during this important settlement.
