Feds Probe Beth Israel’s Billing Practices

BOSTON — Officials at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have confirmed that federal investigators have subpoenaed six years of hospital records as part of an investigation into whether the hospital over-billed Medicare by admitting patients for short stays who could have been treated less expensively as outpatients.

Beth Israel Deaconess disclosed in financial statements over the past several months that it received a subpoena from the office of the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Justice in 2010.

The filings say the outcome of the investigation could affect revenue.

A spokeswoman for the Boston teaching hospital tells The Boston Globe that if any problems are found, they will be addressed.

Federal officials did not comment.