A collection of home health agencies operating in Texas, Ohio and Indiana, along with owner Evolution Health LLC, will pay nearly $4.5 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing illegal kickbacks to assisted living facilities and physicians in exchange for referrals, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
This settlement resolves allegations that, from 2013 to 2022, Guardian Health Care, Gem City Home Care and Care Connection of Cincinnati provided lease payments and other valuable benefits, including wellness health services, sports tickets and meals, to numerous assisted living facilities and their residents, as well as certain health care providers, in exchange for referrals of Medicare beneficiaries, according to a DOJ release. The home health agencies then billed Medicare for the home health services they provided to the referred patients.
The DOJ noted the companies received credit under the department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases. Among other actions, the companies disclosed the conduct to the government, identified the individuals involved and assisted in the determination of losses caused to Medicare.