U.P. Hospital fined for falsifying records

HANCOCK — The corporation under which UP Health System Portage formerly did business has been fined more than $4.4 million dollars for submitting false Medicare claims.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan says Portage Hospital, LLC has agreed to pay the fine to the federal government to settle the matter.

Portage Health Home Care & Hospice turned in false Medicare claims for services supposedly rendered by a staff physical therapist between January 2006 and November 2013.

Hospital officials reported the violation themselves.