Operators of the Lymphedema & Wound Care Institute Inc. in Houston have agreed to pay $4.3 million to settle a whistleblower’s allegations that they improperly billed Medicare for physical therapy treatments provided by unqualified therapists.
According to the whistleblower, a physician who treats patients with lymphedema, the defendants billed Medicare for lymphatic drainage therapy that was performed by massage therapists. Under Medicare rules, the subject therapy must be conducted by physical therapists in order to qualify for Medicare reimbursement.
As a reward for exposing this fraud by filing a False Claims Act lawsuit, the whistleblower will receive 19% of the settlement proceeds.
For more information on this case, click here:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txs/1News/Releases/2013%20December/131202%20-%20Morgan%20et%20al.html