Alabama Home Health Provider Agrees to Pay Fraud Settlement

Techota, LLC has agreed to pay $150,000 in a federal lawsuit that it violated the False Claims Act by fraudulently billing Medicare for unnecessary services. 

The lawsuit stems from allegations that Techota made false claims for payments to Medicare for home health services that were not medically reasonable or necessary, or were not provided under a valid plan of care. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Techota will also enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG).

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“False claims for medically unnecessary services drain both the Medicare program and the taxpayers’ pockets,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General for the Atlanta region. “The provider has agreed to Federal monitoring and reporting requirements to avoid problems in the future.”

The case was initially filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama by Veronica McDonald, a former Techota employee under whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. 

For her role, MCDonald will receive $22,500 as her share of the government’s recovery in this matter. 

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The resolution is part of the ongoing efforts of HHS-OIG to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Through the joint cooperation of these two departments, the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) has together with the Department of Justice (DOJ) recovered nearly $10.2 billion since January 2009. 

The agencies’ total recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009 are in excess of $14 billion, according to DOJ. 

The Alabama-based Techota provides home health services in the state under the names CB Home Health of Bibb County and CV Home Health Services. 

Written by Jason Oliva

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