Advanced Search

Home Health & Hospice Week

Industry Note:

National Chain Pays $12.5M To Settle Fraud Charges

Published on Tue May 10, 2011

Cost-based reimbursement may be long in the past, but a multi-million-dollar settlement may make it seem like yesterday for the nation's largest home care chain. Atlanta-based Gentiva Health Services Inc. has agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle allegations that it incorrectly billed Medicare for salaries and other costs related to employees performing non-reimbursable sales activities. The settlement covers claims from 1998 to 2000, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch says in a release. Providers may see more fraud settlements as the authorities' fraud-fighting continues. "This settlement reflects the ongoing commitment of this Office to root out fraud on the Medicare Program," Lynch says in the release. "Investigating health care fraud is a priority of this office," HHS Special Agent-in-Charge Tom O'Donnell says in the release. Gentiva denies the government's allegations. A company spokesperson told Reuters that Gentiva looks forward to putting the matter behind [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Home Health & Hospice Week

View All