Hospital To Pay $1.8M To Settle Stent Allegations

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury has agreed to settle allegations that it failed to take action to prevent medically unnecessary cardiac stent procedures by a physician who had privileges there.

The hospital agreed to pay $1.8 million under the False Claims Act. The facility also agreed to repay money it got from federal health benefit programs for medically unnecessary stents performed by Dr. John R. McLean.

McLean, a cardiologist, was convicted last month of six health care fraud offenses in connection with inserting unnecessary heart stents.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)