Pasco, Lee hospitals named in $20M federal settlement

Acadia Healthcare, a Tennessee medical group with behavioral hospitals in Fort Myers and Wesley Chapel, has agreed to pay $19.85 million to settle allegations that it “knowingly” billed for unnecessary medical services and services not meeting federal and state regulations at hospitals nationwide.

The settlement with the medical organization was announced Thursday by the United States Department of Justice. DOJ says Acadia will pay $16.6 million of the fine to the federal government and $3.18 million to Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada to resolve state claims.

Among the allegations are that Acadia admitted people not eligible for inpatient treatment, failed to release people no longer in need of care and did not provide adequate supervision leading to violence and suicide.