Operator of local hospice facility pays $19M to settle false benefit claims
WASHINGTON - The operator of hospice care facilities here in the Valley and elsewhere has agreed to pay more than $19 million to settle claims that the previous owner submitted false claims and retained overpayments for services provided to patients who weren't eligible to receive hospice benefits under various federal health care programs.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the settlement involves Gentiva, the successor to Kindred at Home.
Gentiva’s hospice operations, headquartered in Atlanta, include entities that previously operated Kindred at Home hospice locations under the names Avalon, Kindred, SouthernCare, and SouthernCare New Beacon.
A news release from the Justice Department says The agreement covers SouthernCare hospice facilities in the Youngstown area. SouthernCare has locations in Boardman and Austintown.
According to terms of the settlement, Kindred allegedly submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, for patients who did not meet the eligibility requirements from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023.
Kindred was also accused of improperly retaining overpayments from those programs for claims from ineligible patients.
The State of Ohio, which lodged civil claims against SouthernCare, will receive $23,619 from the settlement.
The Department of Justice points out that claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
