Signature HomeNow, a home healthcare company operating in Florida, has reached a $2.1 million settlement to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and fraudulently billed Medicare for unnecessary home healthcare services.
According to the settlement agreement and a complaint filed against the company in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Signature HomeNow knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare between 2013 and 2017.
The fraudulent claims were allegedly for home healthcare services for Medicare beneficiaries who did not require such services. The beneficiaries were either not homebound, did not require skilled care, did not have valid or appropriate care plans, or did not have the necessary in-person visits to be appropriately certified to receive the home healthcare services.
The courts became aware of the fraudulent activity from a complaint submitted to the HHS Office of Inspect General (OIG) complaint hotline. In addition, they received a complaint for monetary damages under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.
Source: Home Healthcare Company Settles False Claims Act Violations / Revcycle Intelligence