KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Home Health Care of East Tennessee, Inc.; Home Health Care of West Tennessee, Inc.; Home Health Care Services, Inc.; Home Health Care Services II, Inc.; Health Care Staffing of Tennessee, Inc.; and Home Health Care Support Services, Inc. (collectively “Home Health”) have agreed to pay the United States $1,800,000, to settle False Claims Act liability.
Each of the Home Health entities is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the conduct giving rise to the allegations occurred over a period of time ranging from as early as 2002 to 2013.
The United States contends that Home Health billed Medicare for home health services and, in some cases, hospice services that were not properly payable due to compensation or other financial arrangements with certain referring physicians which either violated or failed to meet the requirements of the Ethics in Patient Referrals Act (also known as the “Stark law”).
The United States also contends that certain other billed services were not properly payable because they failed to meet Medicare coverage and payment requirements due to false or invalid certifications.
Home Health initiated a voluntary disclosure to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in November 2010, disclosing that it had uncovered potential violations of the Stark law during the course of an ongoing internal audit.
The settlement announced today resulted from the companies’ voluntary disclosures.
“This is an excellent example of how a health care provider can self-report Medicare compliance concerns and avoid costly litigation,” said Nancy Stallard Harr, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Defendant: Home Health Care of East Tennessee, Inc., Home Health Care of West Tennessee, Inc., Home Health Care Services, Inc., Home Health Care Services II, Inc., Health Care Staffing of Tennessee, Inc., Home Health Care Support Services, Inc.
Criminal Charges: False Claims Act liability
City and State: Knoxville, Tennessee
Date: Over a period of time ranging from as early as 2002 to 2013
Sentence or Outcome: Agreed to pay the United States $1,800,000 to settle False Claims Act liability
Dollar Amounts: $1,800,000
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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