Illinois Hospital Agrees to Pay $12.5 Million to Settle Allegations of Billing Error

DOJ

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of the Hospital Sisters Health System (“St. Elizabeth”) in O’Fallon, Illinois, this week agreed to pay $12.5 million to resolve allegations that it committed billing errors that may have resulted in an overpayment for services. A lawsuit alleged that the hospital submitted claims for urgent care services billed at a higher level of service. When the errors were brought to the attention of St. Elizabeth, the hospital fully cooperated with the Department of Justice’s investigation. read more »

Whistleblower David Nielsen speaks out after reporting the Mormon church to IRS in 2019

CBS

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its investment arm, Ensign Peak Advisors, were fined $5 million in February for using shell companies to hide the size of a $32 billion equity portfolio, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A former Ensign Peak portfolio manager blew the whistle on the fund to the IRS in 2019, after working at the firm for nine years. He alleged that the church had accumulated $100 billion in assets and, instead of spending the money on good works, used the money to bail out business with church ties. He claimed that the church violated its religious tax exemption status. read more »