Hospice chain Caris Healthcare has agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle allegations that it knowingly retained overpayments for patients that were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit.

Failure to return payments that were improperly received is a violation of the federal false claims act.  Caris Healthcare did just that by ignoring internal audits and employee reports.

Caris is a hospice chain that operates in South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.  Caris admitted patient that were not terminally ill and were not eligible for Medicare.

“Today’s settlement is an important reminder that compliance programs and activities cannot exist in name only.  When a healthcare provider is put on notice that a patient is ineligible for a particular Medicare benefit or service, the healthcare provider cannot turn a blind eye to that information but, instead, must take reasonable steps to stop the improper conduct and to determine whether that conduct resulted in prior overpayments,” said Chad A. Readler, acting assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s civil division.

The fraud was reported by a whistle-blower who formerly worked as a nurse for Caris. She will receive a $1.4 million share of the settlement. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/legal-regulatory-issues/hospice-operator-pays-8-5m-to-settle-false-claims-act-lawsuit.html

If you are aware and wish to report Medicaid and/or Medicare fraud contact us at Miller Law Group, or call 919-348-4361, for free consultation.