Lincare Holdings, Inc. Health Care Fraud, Washington 2023

Lincare Holdings, Inc. Health Care Fraud, Washington 2023

Spokane, WA – Lincare Holdings, Inc. has agreed to pay $29 million to resolve allegations that it fraudulently overbilled Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans for oxygen equipment. This settlement is the largest-ever health care fraud settlement in the Eastern District of Washington.

As part of the settlement, Lincare agreed to identify and repay Medicare beneficiaries who were overcharged co-pays. Pursuant to this provision, as of September 2024, Lincare has refunded payments to 4,917 patients for a total of $976,137. If patients believe that they may have been overbilled for oxygen equipment and have not received a refund, they can reach out to the United States Attorney’s Office of Public Affairs.

U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref highlighted the importance of this settlement, stating "Safe and affordable health care is critical for a thriving community. Healthcare is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the Inland Northwest, and fraudulent schemes divert public funds away from treating patients and drive up the cost of care for those that need it most."

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington is committed to protecting patients and consumers from health care fraud. In addition to the Lincare settlement, several other major health care fraud cases have been filed or are pending in the Eastern District of Washington.

These cases include the sentencing of Thomas Andrew Webster, M.D., age 51, of Sylvania, Ohio, who was sentenced to two years in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, restitution of more than $870,000, an additional criminal fine of $50,000, and forfeiture of hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets. Webster was convicted of conspiring to accept kickbacks in connection with a fraudulent telemarketing and medical supply scheme throughout Washington and in other states.

In another case, Justin Leland agreed to pay $224,620.88 to resolve allegations he participated in a kick-back scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment. William O. Mize pled guilty to conspiracy in connection with a scheme to defraud insurance companies of more than $6 million by submitting fraudulent claims for health care and other injury expenses in connection with a series of vehicle collisions and other accidents staged by Mize and his co-conspirators.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington is committed to working with partners to combat health care fraud and protect patients and consumers. U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, "We are proud to work with our partners to bring these cases to justice and ensure that patients receive the quality care they deserve."

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