Fairview billing practices violated fed law, regulators say

Strong-armed billing practices at the University of Minnesota Medical Center violated federal patient-protection laws, regulators have concluded after reviewing a range of incidents involving emergency room patients and others in fragile medical condition. The findings, which stem from Fairview's relationship with a Chicago-based consulting firm, put the hospital at risk of being terminated from Medicare and Medicaid, the ultimate penalty the federal government can impose. But a state official who is still investigating on behalf of the federal agency that runs Medicare said the Fairview-owned university hospital has ample time to correct its deficiencies and avoid sanctions.