Six affiliated home health providers in Chattanooga, Tenn., agreed to pay the federal government $1.8 million to resolve allegations it improperly billed Medicare, TheChattanoogan.com reports.
Federal prosecutors accused Chattanooga-based Home Health affiliated providers of violating Stark Law by improperly billing Medicare for home health and some hospice services under financial arrangements with referring physicians.
The federal government also claimed Home Health's affiliated providers failed to comply with Medicare coverage and payment requirements because of invalid or false certifications, the report states. The alleged violations occurred between 2002 and 2013.
In 2010, Home Health voluntarily disclosed it found possible Stark Law violations during an internal audit to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The settlement arose from the providers' disclosures.