Denton-based medical provider to pay $14.2M over billing error

Horizon Medical Center of Denton, which operates outpatient surgical centers in Dallas, Richardson, and Coppell, has agreed to pay $14.2 million to the federal government after overbilling Medicare due to a billing code error, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Dallas announced Monday.

The overbilling stemmed from an incorrect code that led to excessive Medicare payments, constituting a violation of the federal False Claims Act. However, the U.S. Attorney's Office noted that Horizon Medical Center discovered the error on its own and voluntarily reported it to authorities.

The Justice Department acknowledged Horizon's self-reporting and cooperation, emphasizing the importance of companies proactively addressing compliance issues. Federal officials added that other government contractors have also recently identified and self-reported similar issues.