Home Health & Hospice Week
Hospice Fraud Is OIG ‘Top Priority,’ Agency Tells Congress
Hospice fraudster grabs the spotlight. The high-profile Merida Group case in South Texas isn’t dying down yet. The HHS Office of Inspector General highlights the $150 million scheme in its latest Semiannual Report to Congress. Recap: Merida CEO Henry McInnis was convicted of fraud and other charges in a 2019 trial. Prosecutors proved McInnis and codefendants falsely told patients with chronic diseases that they had less than six months to live, in order to enroll the patients in hospice for which they were otherwise unqualified, the report tells lawmakers. The scheme also involved falsified documentation, kickbacks disguised as medical director fees, and kickbacks to marketers for referrals. In February, McInnis was sentenced to 15 years in prison (see HCW by AAPC, Vol. XXX, No. 8). “A top priority for OIG is protecting the health and well-being of HHS beneficiaries, including … beneficiaries receiving hospice care,” says the report at www.oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/archives/semiannual/2021/2021-spring-sar.pdf.
Home Health & Hospice Week
- Audits:
OIG Wants HHA To Repay $4.4 Million After Audit
Watchdog agency serves up its long string of HHA, hospice audits to Congress in latest [...] - Fraud & Abuse:
HHA Owner Charged With Provider Relief Fund Fraud
Plus: Crackdown on state personal care services fraudsters continues A home health agency owner is [...] - Enforcement:
Crackdown On State Personal Care Services Fraudsters Continues
D.C. aide billed for 32 hours of services per day. Home health fraud isn’t limited [...] - Compliance:
Keep Up With New Regulations On Signing Certs
NPs, CNSs, and PAs are officially on the list. New Medicare regulations regarding who can [...] - Regulations:
New Requirement On Owner Reporting Set To Increase Burden
Can home health and hospice agencies avoid the extra work? Stay tuned to forthcoming regulations [...] - Industry Notes:
Hospice Fraud Is OIG ‘Top Priority,’ Agency Tells Congress
Hospice fraudster grabs the spotlight. The high-profile Merida Group case in South Texas isn’t dying [...] - Industry Notes:
HOPE Is Coming, Care Compare Changes Are Here
Stay abreast of new Hospice Quality Reporting Program developments with newly released resources. HOPE: Materials [...] - Industry Notes:
Hospice Whistleblower Case Founders On Lack Of Specificity
Providers fending off whistleblower cases may be heartened by a recent unpublished ruling from the [...] - Industry Notes:
OIG Mulls Penalizing More Early Hospital Discharges To Home Care
Expect the payment penalty for early hospital discharges to home health agencies to expand, if [...] - Industry Notes:
In-Home Care Demand Climbing
Two recent studies and surveys say what you may already know — demand for in-home [...] - Industry Notes:
CDC Tool Aims To Sway Vaccine-Hesitant Direct Care Workers
You’ve got one more free tool to put in your vaccination campaign toolbox. The Centers [...] - Industry Notes:
HHS Asks Employers To Talk To Workers About Insurance Marketplace
If you don’t furnish health insurance to your employees, the government would like you to [...] - Industry Notes:
HH Fraudster Draws 17-Year Sentence
A serious criminal enterprise running on-paper-only home health agencies has resulted in a number of [...]
