Expect your claims with high therapy to come under even more review. “Another area in which the schemes continue to evolve is home health services,” explained an official from the HHS Office of Inspector General in a March 26 hearing for the Senate Special Committee on Aging on preventing Medicare fraud. “Although we have seen a decrease in home health payments, the area remains rife with fraud and is one of our top priorities,” said Brian Marten, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, in prepared testimony.
“Home health schemes were initially characterized by billing Medicare for expensive long term skilled nursing visits to administer insulin injections to diabetics,” Marten explained. “However, the scheme has changed and now involves billing for physical therapy and occupational therapy.”