Horizon/CMS Settles Billings Investigation

Horizon/CMS Health Care Corp. said it paid $5.8 million to the federal government to settle an investigation of Medicare billings. The company said it reached the settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of New Mexico and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Albuquerque-based specialty health-care services provider said the United States declined any criminal prosecution and will not exclude the company from Medicare and Medicaid programs. Horizon/CMS said the $5.8-million settlement includes $1.2 million refunded to the U.S. in April. Horizon/CMS runs 33 acute rehabilitation hospitals, 58 specialty hospitals and 282 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in at least 35 states. Shares rose $2 to close at $12.625 on the New York Stock Exchange.