By Sarah Gantz, Baltimore Business Journal

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The former Maryland General Hospital has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle allegations that it overbilled for cardiac testing services.

The settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice resolves allegations that the hospital, now known as University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus, overbilled for cardiac testing between 2003 and 2009. The allegations also claim Maryland General failed to repay the overbilled charges after financial managers were alerted of the situation.

“To avoid the uncertainty, inconvenience and expense of protracted litigation regarding these claims, Maryland General Hospital has worked constructively with the U.S. Attorney’s office to resolve this case,” the University of Maryland Medical System said in a statement. “The case centered around activities alleged to have occurred many years ago (2003-2009). Since that time period Maryland General has implemented an extensive compliance program.”

The hospital is part of the University of Maryland Medical System.

The settlement was announced Monday by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Daniel R. Levinson.

The allegations rose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed against the downtown Baltimore hospital. The plaintiff in that lawsuit, Kenneth Creeger, will receive $119,728 from the settlement.

Creeger worked in the finance department at Maryland General from 2001 to 2009.