Visiting Physicians Association to Pay $9.5 M to Resolve False Claims Allegations
December 24, 2009
Visiting Physicians Association, a home health agency based in Farmington Hills, Mich., has agreed to pay the federal government and the state of Michigan $9.5 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, TRICARE and the Michigan Medicaid program, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
The agreement settles allegations that Visiting Physicians Association submitted claims to Medicare, TRICARE and Michigan Medicaid for unnecessary home visits and care plan oversight services for unnecessary tests and procedures and for more complex evaluation and management services than the services that Visiting Physicians Association actually provided, according to the release.
The allegations originated from four lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on the government's behalf and share in any recovery. This settlement provides that the four whistleblower plaintiffs will collectively receive a total of approximately $1.7 million, according to the release.
Read the DOJ's release on Visiting Physicians Association.
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