Cincinnati hospital defends practices, suit could cost $400 million

Cincinnati-based Christ Hospital is firing back at federal authorities who accuse physicians at its acclaimed cardiac-care center of running an illegal kickback scheme. Hospital executives said they acted properly in assigning doctors to perform tests in its heart center. In a federal lawsuit, the Justice Department claimed those assignments were payments to favored doctors, which is a violation of the federal laws against making false claims to Medicare and Medicaid.