Medicare Audit | The Health Law Firm Blog

E&M Services Now Under Review by the Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs)

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In September 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made the decision to allow Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) to begin reviewing the billing codes for office visits for healthcare providers. Those at issue are the codes referred to as evaluation and management (E&M) codes. These claims had previously been off-limits to RACS.

Connolly, Inc., the contractor for RAC audit services for 15 states and two U.S. territories, will sort through claims filed by doctors and hospitals from as far back as October 1, 2007. According to an article […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:37-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, Medicare, Medicare Audit, Medicare Fraud, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Hospice of the Comforter Inc., Faces Whistleblower Lawsuit

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On September 6, 2012, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it will join in a whistleblower lawsuit alleging false Medicare billings against Hospice of the Comforter Inc., (HOTCI). The hospice is located in Altamonte Springs, a suburb of the Orlando area, and provides hospice services to local patients.

To read the entire whistleblower complaint filed, click here.

Allegations in the Lawsuit Against HOTCI.

According to the DOJ, the lawsuit was filed by the former vice president of finance for HOTCI. The case alleges HOTCI submitted false claims to […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:36-04:00June 1, 2018|Health Care Industry, In the Know, In the News, Medicare, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog, Whistleblower|

Office of Inspector General (OIG) Scrutinizes Billing at South Florida Mental Health Clinics

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On August 16, 2012, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report on questionable billing by mental health centers. The report focuses on the nation’s mental health clinics that overbilled Medicare in 2010, some by tens of millions of dollars. The majority of these clinics were located in South Florida, Texas and Louisiana.

To see the full report from the OIG, click here.

Two Big Busts in Florida Mental Health Clinics for Medicare Fraud.

According to an article in the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:36-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Medicare, Medicare Audit, Mental Health, The Health Law Firm Blog|

U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) Investigating the Cardiology Services at Florida Hospitals

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On Monday, August 6, 2012, a New York Times article revealed that cardiology services at some Florida HCA hospitals are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly performing unnecessary procedures to increase profits.

Click here to see the entire New York Times article posted August 6, 2012.

I previously blogged about and published an article on how a number of medical specialty societies have released lists of unnecessary or ineffective procedures.

To read that article, originally published in […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|Medicare, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

South Florida Man Admits to a $42 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The owner and operator of a Miami home health care agency pleaded guilty for his part in a $42 million home health Medicare fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The 43 year-old man pleaded guilty before a U.S. district court judge to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud on August 2, 2012.

To see the entire press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), click here.

First Part of the Fraud Operation Involved Kickbacks […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

August 27, 2012, Marks the Start Date of the CMS Recovery Audit Prepayment Review (RAPR)

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On July 31, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on its website that hospitals should brace themselves for prepayment audits beginning August 27, 2012.

The CMS originally announced the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review (RAPR) Demonstration Project in November of 2011 for a January 1, 2012 start date, then delayed it to June 1, 2012, then again to, “summer of 2012.”

To see the official announcement from the CMS, click here.

Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) will Review Claims with High Rates of Improper Billing.

[…]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, In the News, Medicaid, Medicaid audit, Medicare, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|