New York, NY – In a shocking revelation, three New York City home health agencies have paid a total of $24 million to settle claims that they submitted false claims to the New York Medicaid and Medicare programs.
The allegations, filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, claimed that Nursing Personnel Home Care knowingly supplied aides with phoney training certificates to Extended Home Care and Excellent Home Care, which then billed New York Medicaid for the aides’ services.
According to the government, Extended Home Care and Excellent Home Care knowingly billed for aides with phoney certificates who were untrained, and that Extended Home Care knowingly submitted claims to the Medicare program for home health aide services purportedly rendered by aides supplied by Nursing Personnel that were not actually provided.
The United States is receiving approximately $9.7 million as a result of the settlement with these three companies, and the state of New York is receiving approximately $14.3 million, for a total recovery of $24 million.
“Our nation’s Medicare and Medicaid patients deserve nothing less than quality health care they can depend on,” said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. “When home health agencies cut corners to avoid compliance with legal training standards, they seriously undermine the integrity of the care they provide.”
New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said, “The size of this settlement underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of vigorous oversight of the Medicaid program and the medical care of our loved ones.”
The settlement reflects this office’s commitment to investigate allegations of fraud committed on the Medicare or Medicaid programs, especially when the alleged fraud could impact the standard of care received by New Yorkers in need of medical assistance, said Benton J. Campbell, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
The allegations were initiated by two lawsuits filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to file suit on behalf of the United States for fraud and share in any recovery. Maurice Keshner will receive $251,107 from the government’s recovery from Nursing Personnel. Deborah Yannicelli will receive $1,663,040 from the government’s recovery from Extended and Excellent.
The lawsuits were captioned as United States ex rel. Keshner v Nursing Personnel Home Care, et al., Civil Action No. 06-1067 (E.D.N.Y.), and United States and the State of New York ex rel. Jane Doe v. Extended Nursing Personnel CHHA, LLC, et al., Civil Action No. 07-4621 (E.D.N.Y.).
Defendant: Nursing Personnel Home Care
Criminal Charges: Healthcare Fraud
City and State: New York
Date: 2023
Sentence or Outcome: $9.7 million settlement
Dollar Amount: $9.7 million
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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