Medical college settles overbilling case with feds

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Prosecutors say the Medical College of Wisconsin has agreed to pay $840,000 to settle allegations the institution overbilled federal health care programs.

Federal and state prosecutors accused the school in 2012 of submitting false reimbursement claims for neurosurgeries to the Medicare and Tricare programs. They alleged teaching physicians regularly scheduled multiple patients for surgery simultaneously even though billing rules prohibit them from being responsible for two surgeries at once.

Online court records indicate U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa approved the settlement on Thursday.

College spokeswoman Maureen Mack released a statement Friday saying the school is committed to complying with billing regulations and cooperated with investigators. She said patient safety was never in question.