Petitioner: MERCY HOSPITAL, INC.
Respondent: AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Judges: STUART M. LERNER
Agency: Agency for Health Care Administration
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Feb. 15, 2002
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, May 7, 2002.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
AUS 16 02
STATE OF FLORIDA 7
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION. PART MF # CER
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MERCY HOSPITAL, INC., ie o
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Petitioner, DOAH CASE NO: 02-0594MPf
PROVIDER NO: 010043900
v. C.1. NO: 01-1161-000 f
STATE OF FLORIDA, SMmL ¢ leac
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE
ADMINISTRATION,
Respondent.
/
FINAL ORDER
THE PARTIES resolved all disputed issues and executed a Settlement Agreement, which
is incorporated by reference. The parties are directed to comply with the terms of the attached
settlement agreement. Based on the foregoing, this file is CLOSED.
DONE and ORDERED on this the | ) ty of Brsushioe, in Tallahassee, Florida.
“Row
Rhonda M. Medowg, MD, Secrajary
Agency for Health Care Administration
A PARTY WHOIS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO
A JUDICIAL REVIEW WHICH SHALL BE INSTITUTED BY FILING ONE COPY OF A
NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH THE AGENCY CLERK OF AHCA, AND A SECOND COPY
ALONG WITH FILING FEE AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW, WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF
APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE AGENCY MAINTAINS ITS
HEADQUARTERS OR WHERE A PARTY RESIDES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE
CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FLORIDA APPELLATE RULES. THE
NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RENDITION OF THE
ORDER TO BE REVIEWED.
Copies furnished to:
SUSAN C. FELKER-LITTLE, Esquire
Assistant General Counsel
Agency for Health Care Administration (“AHCA”)
(Interoffice Mail Stop #3)
LEWIS W. FISHMAN, Esquire
Two Datran Center — Suite 1121
9130 South Dadeland Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33156
S. M. LERNER, Administrative Law Judge
The Division of Administrative Hearings
The DeSoto Building ‘
1230 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-30060
Charlie Ginn, Chief, Medicaid Program Integrity
Kathleen Cook, Medicaid Program Integrity
Willie Bivens, Finance and Accounting
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished to
the above named addressees by U.S. Mail on this the 2 Thay of Prugyst , 2002.
Leakud dn’ Choe
Agency Clerk
State of Florida
Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive, Building #3
Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403
(850) 922-5873
Puy pe
LED
02 dug ,
MERCY HOSPITAL, INC. DOAH Case No,2- ams 29
Provider No. 010043900 CLL No. 01-1469 ee Ciat
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
(“AHCA” or “the Agency”), and MERCY HOSPITAL, INC. (“PROVIDER”), by and through
the undersigned, hereby stipulate and agree as follows:
1. This Agreement is entered into between the parties for the purpose of avoiding the
costs and burdens of litigation, and neither party concedes the other’s position.
2. PROVIDER is a Medicaid provider in the State of Florida.
3. In its final agency audit report dated November 15, 2001, AHCA notified
PROVIDER that the Medicaid Program Integrity office had received information based on a
retrospective medical record review by the Keystone Peer Review Organization (KePRO)
respecting Medicaid claims billed where either the inpatient admission or a portion of the length
of stay was not medically necessary for Medicaid recipients. The Agency sought overpayment in
the amount of $86,953.02 by way of an audit letter dated November 15, 2001. PROVIDER then
filed a petition for a formal administrative hearing, which was assigned DOAH Case No. 02-
0594MPI.
4. In order to resolve this matter without further administrative or legal proceedings,
PROVIDER and the AHCA expressly agree as follows:
1 Mercy SA 5-2-02
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
AHCA agrees to accept the payment set forth herein in settlement of the
overpayment issues arising from the KePRO review.
Within thirty days of receipt of the final order, PROVIDER agrees to
make a one-time payment to repay THREE THOUSAND, FIVE
HUNDRED, SIXTY-EIGHT DOLLARS AND THIRTY-FIVE CENTS
($3,568.35) in full and complete settlement of all claims in the
proceedings before the Division of Administrative Hearings, Case No. 02-
0594MPI. Payment shall be made to:
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Medicaid Accounts Receivable
Post Office Box 13749
Tallahassee, Florida 32317-3749
PROVIDER and AHCA agree that full payment as set forth above will
resolve and settle this case completely and release both parties from all
liabilities arising from the findings in the audit referenced as C.1. 01-1161-
000.
PROVIDER agrees that it will not bill or rebill the Medicaid Program in
any manner for claims that were not covered by Medicaid, which are the
subject of the audit in this case.
5. PROVIDER agrees that failure to pay any monies due and owing under the terms
of this Agreement shall constitute PROVIDER’S authorization for the Agency, without further
2 Mercy SA 5-2-02
notice, to withhold the total remaining amount due under the terms of this agreement from any
monies due and owing to PROVIDER for any Medicaid claims.
6. AHCA reserves the right to enforce this Agreement if breached under the laws of
the State of Florida, the Rules of the Medicaid Program, and all other applicable rules and
regulations.
7. This settlement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing or error by either
party with respect to this case or any other matter. However, the parties believe that this matter
should be settled because the parties have agreed to the terms contained within this agreement.
8. Each party shall bear its own attorneys’ fees and costs, if any.
9. The signatories to this Agreement, acting in a representative capacity, represent
that they are duly authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the respective parties.
10. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the provisions of the laws
of Florida. Venue for any action arising from this Agreement shall be in Leon County, Florida.
1. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between PROVIDER and the
AHCA, including anyone acting for, associated with or employed by them, concerning all
matters and supersedes any prior discussions, agreements or understandings; there are no
promises, representations or agreements between PROVIDER and the AHCA other than as set
forth herein. No modification or waiver of any provision shall be valid unless a written
amendment to the Agreement is completed and properly executed by the parties.
Mercy SA §-2-02
W
13. This is an Agreement of settlement and compromise, made in recognition that the
parties may have different or incorrect understandings, information and contentions, as to facts
and law, and with each party compromising and settling any potential correctness or
incorrectness of its understandings, information and contentions as to facts and law, so that no
misunderstanding or misinformation shall be a ground for rescission hereof.
14, PROVIDER expressly waives in this matter its right to any hearing pursuant to
sections 120.569 or 120.57, Florida Statutes, the making of findings of fact and conclusions of
law by the Agency, and all further and other Proceedings to which it may be entitled by law or
rules of the Agency regarding this proceeding and any and all issues raised herein. PROVIDER
further agrees that it shal! not challenge or contest any Final Order entered in this matter which is
consistent with the terms of this settlement agreement in any forum now or in the future available
to it, including the right to any administrative proceeding, circuit or federal court action or any
appeal,
13. This Agreement is and shall be deemed jointly drafted and written by all parties to
it and shall not be construed or interpreted against the party originating or preparing it.
16. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law for any
reason, such provision shall be effective to the extent not so prohibited, and such prohibition
shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement.
Mercy SA 5-2-02
4a
17. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding on each party’s
successors, assigns, heirs, administrators, representatives and trustees.
18. All times stated herein are of the essence of this Agreement.
19. This Agreement shall be in full force and effect upon execution by the respective
parties in counterpart.
MERCY HOSPITAL, INC.
PIA S z= Dated: Ape | dad , 2002
BY: V1 anue\ P Fluton gti
(Print name)
ITS:Sentee Via Desde d Medica | Direc be, .
STATE OF FLORIDA
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #3
Tallahassee, FL 32308-5403
toe Dated: , 2002
Bob Sharpe
Deputy “Secretary, Medicaid
ze Ae LIE. bp — Dated: PL , 2002
William H. Roberts
Acting General Counsel
Dated: Dt He te , 2002
C. Felker-Little
Assistant General Counsel
5 Mercy SA 5-2-02
Docket for Case No: 02-000594MPI
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Aug. 19, 2002 |
Final Order filed.
|
May 07, 2002 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
May 06, 2002 |
Status Report and Joint Motion to Relinquish Juridiction (filed via facsimile).
|
Apr. 22, 2002 |
Notice of Appearance and Substution of Counsel (filed Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Apr. 17, 2002 |
Order Granting Continuance issued (parties to advise status by May 6, 2002).
|
Apr. 11, 2002 |
Petitioner`s Response to AHCA`s Motion for Continuance (filed via facsimile).
|
Apr. 11, 2002 |
AHCA`s Motion for Continuance (filed via facsimile).
|
Mar. 06, 2002 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
|
Mar. 06, 2002 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for April 29 and 30, 2002; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Feb. 28, 2002 |
Joint Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
|
Feb. 19, 2002 |
Initial Order issued.
|
Feb. 15, 2002 |
Final Agency Audit Report filed.
|
Feb. 15, 2002 |
Preliminary Audit Report filed.
|
Feb. 15, 2002 |
Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Feb. 15, 2002 |
Notice (of Agency referral) filed.
|