Home healthcare fraud is an increasing issue. The Department of Justice indicates that there is a steady incline in healthcare fraud cases where home healthcare/hospice providers are concerned. Roughly half of the claims received involve a home healthcare provider according to DOJ spokesman Peter Carr.
In 2012, a study of 2010 home healthcare claims was conducted. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General found that 1 in 4 claims included questionable billing. Experts in the field place some of the blame on the fast growth of these agencies. Outlier payments seem to be one of the biggest culprits for the excessive costs and improper billings.
To work on preventing home healthcare fraud, the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team was put into place. Investigators on local, state, and federal levels exist in several regional locations across the country.
One of the biggest cases of home-care fraud involved Medistat Group Associates, operated by Dr. Jacques Roy. Fraud schemes totaled $374 million. This company is said to have approved upwards of 11,000 patients for home-care services.
Fraud in home-care services does not stop at just improper billing practices. Kickbacks are also a large part of the problem. Some recruiters were paid kickbacks to boost enrollment for some home-care providers. These patients were mainly covered under government healthcare plans like Medicare and Medicaid.
If you have first hand knowledge of a healthcare company committing fraud, you may entitled to bring a whistleblower claim and receive substantial compensation. Our law firm offers a free, no cost and no obligation consultation to discuss your potential claim. Contact our office directly at 1-888-55-HARMAN or (404) 554-0777 to schedule your consultation.
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