12 Home Health Workers Indicted for $87 Million Medicaid Fraud

Two sisters and 10 of their employees have been indicted after a federal grand jury said they spent years using their home health care companies to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program. Home health care companies owned and operated by sisters Arlinda Moriarty and Daynelle Dickens received more than $87 million in Medicaid payments for services […]

CMS: Home Health Improper Payments Down $6.92 Billion

The Medicare fee-for-service improper payment rate in 2018 is the lowest it has been since 2010. A sharp drop in home health improper payments, in particular, is a big part of the reason why. Improper payments decreased by roughly $4.59 billion from 2017 to 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services […]

4 Charged in $87M Home Health Care Scheme

Federal investigators had a busy month of October shining a light on major fraud schemes throughout the home health industry — and November appears to be more of the same. A federal jury on Friday found a patient recruiter guilty for her role in a scheme involving roughly $1.1 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for […]

Former Mississippi Hospice Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud

A former hospice owner has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a Greenville, Mississippi court. Charline Brandon of Cleveland, Mississippi, submitted nearly $11 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and more than $2 million to Medicaid while running Cleveland-based Haven Hospice, North Haven Hospice, Lion Hospice and North […]

Federal Bill Would Expand Crackdown on Medicaid Home Health Fraud

Democratic Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont on Tuesday unveiled bipartisan legislation to combat Medicaid fraud and abuse originating outside of institutional health care settings. The bill would build on the authority of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) and expand the scope to encompass all Medicaid services including non-institutional settings, such as home health care. […]

Why the Looming AseraCare Decision Could Decimate Hospice Fraud Prosecution

Trends in hospice fraud have authorities on high alert and providers feeling the heat. But a looming, potentially precedent-setting legal case currently in the hands of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals may soon make the prosecution of hospice providers much more difficult to pursue under the False Claims Act (FCA). “[The case] could decimate […]

OIG Puts the Pressure On as Hospice Fraud Cases Pile Up

In March 2018, Health and Palliative Services of the Treasure Coast and two of its businesses paid $2.5 million to settle a False Claims Act (FCA) case related to hospice billing. A month later, Horizons Hospice agreed to pay more than $1.2 million to resolve allegations that the company fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for services to patients […]

Home Health Agency Wins Payment Fight With CMS in ZPIC Audit

A home health agency will be paid for services following a court win that prevents the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from withholding and recouping payments—at least temporarily. A judge granted the home health agency’s temporary restraining order motion in the case, Family Rehab., Inc. v. Azar, which will temporarily ensure payments are not […]