WASHINGTON, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A whistleblower lawsuit sparked a federal investigation into the billing practices of Rex Hospital that has resulted in the Raleigh, North Carolina, hospital paying the federal government $1.9 million to settle Medicare fraud charges. The "qui tam" lawsuit alleged a number of hospitals were keeping Medicare patients overnight unnecessarily following a back procedure known as "kyphoplasty" as a way to boost Medicare revenues when the procedure often can be done safely - and at a much lower cost -- on an outpatient basis. The settlement with the government, announced today, also covers federal charges that Rex Hospital billed Medicare for medically unnecessary overnight stays involving other medical procedures. Rex Hospital is the second North Carolina hospital to settle charges involving billing Medicare for unnecessary inpatient stays for kyphoplasty procedures.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Pathology Service Associates, LLC (PSA), a MED3OOO Company, was recently selected by Rex Healthcare Laboratory for revenue cycle management (billing), marketing, and business support services.

By Tim Simmons, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Jun. 3--RALEIGH -- An emergency drill that forced WakeMed employees to transfer dozens of critically ill "patients" across town Monday taught the area's largest medical provider a couple of lessons.

By Todd Silberman, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Jul. 29--For every two people who move to Wake County, another arrives as the ultimate newcomer -- a newborn. In all, nearly 13,000 babies were born last year to Wake residents -- an average of about 35 a day.

On the day that celebrates independence and freedom, North Carolina's three major Triangle area health systems will declare tobacco-free campuses for their patients, visitors and employees.