May 24, 2013

Weather

Partly Cloudy

76°
Conditions at North Texas Regional Airport, TX
Save Email Print Bookmark and Share
A A
Reporter: Allison Harris Email

Durant hospital accused of fraud

DURANT, OKLAHOMA -- If you missed it Sunday night, Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma was highlighted in a 60 Minutes investigation.

The group that manages MCSO and other hospitals across the nation has come under fire for allegedly requiring its doctors to admit more and more patients, regardless of their medical needs, to increase revenues.

Health Management Associates, or HMA, is now being investigated by the Justice Department for this alleged fraud.

Monday, Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma responded to accusations of fraud, saying the 60 Minutes report is "inaccurate."

A statement from MCSO's home office says, "60 Minutes failed to identify a single patient who had been inappropriately admitted."

But we found a handful of disgruntled former MCSO patients who say they aren't surprised by the accusations.

We talked to dozens of people here in Durant who say they've been treated at Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma. Many of them declined going on camera, but did tell us what they call horror stories.

A couple we talked to say they've had bad experiences at MCSO.

They say most people they know in Durant steer clear of MCSO because of their treatment.

"They pretty much just treat people like cattle. They shove them through just for the money. You know, it's all about the money and not about the patient," she said.

"It's kinda one of those things that everybody knows but, you know, nobody talks about," he said.

A woman we talked to says she was double billed for a mammogram, then sent to a collection agency when she refused to pay twice.

Another person says he took his relative to MCSO three times on the day that he suffered a fatal heart attack.

But the statement from MCSO says, "60 Minutes found no issues with the quality of care at Health Management hospitals, stating on the broadcast that 'hardly anyone we talked to complained about the quality of care at HMA hospitals.'"

Their statement did not, however, deny a MCSO document that 60 Minutes says was given to them by a doctor there.

For HMA locations nationwide, visit this site: www.hma.com/locations/oklahoma

For the full 60 Minutes report, visit this site:
www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50136261n


Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
powered by Disqus

In The Community

Children’s Center Honors Volunteers

Posted: 05/23/13 - Julie Luton of Bonham took home the top honor of the evening at the recent volunteer banquet hosted by the Fannin County Children’s Center. Luton was named the CASA Volunteer of the Year for her work in advocating for abused and neglected children in foster care. Read More

Idabel Main Street to Host Building Maintenance Workshop

Posted: 05/22/13 - (Idabel, Okla.) – For anyone interested in learning more about building preservation, Idabel Main Street will host “Historic Building Maintenance,” a workshop on the care and maintenance of the historic district, June 25th, from 5:30pm – 7:00pm, at the Idabel Public Library. Read More

Sherman Public Library Summer Reading Club sign ups

Posted: 05/08/13 - The Sherman Public Library is very excited about our upcoming Summer Reading Club for children and teens. Children ages birth-11 can Dig into Reading and join the Youth Summer Reading Club. The theme for the Teen Summer Reading Club this year is Beneath the Surface and it is open to teens ages 12-18. Read More

Most Discussed Stories

powered by Disqus