Arizona-based Hospice Family Care Inc. has agreed to settle allegations that it engaged in Medicare fraud by repaying the federal government $3.7 million. The lawsuit alleged that the hospice services provider sought payment for hospice services for patients who were either completely or partly ineligible for those services. Hospice Family Care was also accused of providing some patients higher-level care than was medically necessary or permitted.
The settlement also resolves allegations against the hospice services provider’s former owners, Nancy Turner and Nancy Smith. As part of the settlement, both women accepted a seven-year prohibition against filing claims with Medicaid, Medicare and other federal health programs.
Hospice Family Care Inc. will continue to provide patient care. The former owners have sold the company, but patient care should not be affected. According to AZCentral.com, Ms. Smith and Ms. Turner continue to deny any wrongdoing and claim that they agreed to the settlement to facilitate the sale of the company.
Waters & Kraus is a national firm with highly skilled lawyers practicing qui tam litigation in four offices, including Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Baltimore. Our attorneys have decades of experience successfully representing whistleblowers in a variety of fraud cases. Contact us or call our attorneys at 800.226.9880 to learn more about our practice and how we can assist.
