Northside Hospital (Northside), Florida, agreed to pay $38,000 to resolve its liability for Civil Monetary Penalties under the patient dumping statute. The OIG alleged that Northside failed to provide an appropriate medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment to a patient with a history of mitral valve replacement. Specifically, the patient presented to Northside’s emergency department (ED) by ambulance with flu symptoms and a high fever. A triage nurse instructed the patient to go home and to follow his primary care physician’s orders. Two days later the patient presented again to Northside’s ED and was admitted to their intensive care unit. On August 8, 2009, the patient died due to influenza A (H1N1).
The above summary is taken from the OIG official website. In each CMP case resolved through a settlement agreement, the settling party has contested the OIG’s allegations and denied any liability. No CMP judgment or finding of liability has been made against the settling party.