News From Around the Web
> A Greensboro, North Carolina transportation company was charged with fraudulently billing more than $19 million in claims to Medicare and Medicaid, according to Fox8. Gate City Transportation billed for ambulance services even though it hasn't operated an ambulance since 2010. Last week, federal investigators seized vans and searched vehicles as part of the investigation. Article
> Three Florida men were arrested last week in connection with a multi-state drug diversion ring in which they purchased millions of dollars of medications from Medicaid recipients in Miami and Newark, New Jersey and resold the drugs to pharmacies in Philadelphia and Chicago. The drugs purchased on the black market included HIV medications, anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. All told, they cost Medicaid an estimated $11 million. Statement
> A Florida home health company agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle false claims allegations that it paid physicians for home health referrals. Recovery Home Care Inc., which was bought by National Home Care Holdings LLC in 2012, allegedly paid dozens of physicians thousands of dollars a month to conduct patient chart reviews and induce referrals. Statement
Health Finance News
> An Office of Inspector General report released on Monday found that Medicare could save billions each year if swing beds in rural hospitals were reimbursed at rates comparable to skilled nursing facilities. The report indicated that the program would have saved $4.1 billion over the last six years under this alternate reimbursement method. Article
Health Payer News
> A new bill aims to offer greater transparency into Medicare claims data in order to share information with payers, providers and research institutions. Legislators argue the current Qualified Entity (QE) Program is too restrictive and limits the ability to evaluate provider and supplier performance. Article
And finally… Get your Thin Mints without ever leaving your car. Article