The American Hospital Association has filed suit against the federal government for refusing to make reimbursements on Medicare payments that they claim were legal and medically needed.
The move comes after independent auditors working on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ordered reimbursements on some in-patient procedures be revoked. According to the AHA, however, those procedures are clearly included in at least one section of the Medicaid Act.
"Federal law requires Medicare to reimburse hospitals for reasonable and medically necessary services," reads the court filing, adding that the auditors "disagreed only with the setting in which the care was provided."
Thus far reps from the U.S. Justice Department have declined comment on the lawsuit.
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