The Department of Justice on Friday announced that Sutter Health has agreed to pay more than $45 million to settle a lawsuit by the federal government that it paid a select group of doctors in exchange for patient referrals from those doctors. It was also alleged that Sutter received reimbursement for Medicare claims submitted as a result from those referrals.
The Department says Sutter Memorial Center Sacramento agreed to pay $30.5 million to settle allegations that it paid a group of Sacramento surgeons in exchange for the surgeons referring patients to the hospital.
Separately, Sutter has agreed to pay more than $15 million to resolve other violations, including double-billing Medicare.