SlideShare una empresa de Scribd logo
1 de 46
Descargar para leer sin conexión
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. ebglaw.com
RECENT INVESTIGATION AND
ENFORCEMENT TRENDS
2016 Compliance and TPL Focused Training
Boston, Massachusetts
June 10, 2016Mark S. Armstrong
Member of the Firm
EPSTEIN, BECKER & GREEN, P.C.
Houston, Texas
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 2
I. Overview of the False Claims Act
II. Government Agencies / Contractors Involved
III. Targeted Enforcement Actions
IV. Recent Settlements and Decisions
V. Mitigating Risks
Recent Investigation and Enforcement Trends
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
I. Overview of the
False Claims Act
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 4
 The False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, et. seq., authorizes the United
States, or private parties, known as “relators”, acting on behalf of the United
States, to recover monetary damages from parties who submit, or cause
others to submit, fraudulent claims for payment by the federal government.
 Key Points:
• Liability for submitting, or causing to be submitted, a false or fraudulent claim for
payment; making or causing to be made a false record or statement in order to
secure payment of a claim; or conspiring to get a false or fraudulent claim paid.
• Materiality: The falsehood was material to the decision to pay the claim.
• Scienter: “knew or should have known”; “deliberate
ignorance” of truth or falsity; “reckless disregard”
of the truth or falsity of the claim.
The False Claims Act
THE GOVERNMENT’S FAVORITE WEAPON
No Specific Intent Needed
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 5
 Penalties can be imposed on
anyone who “knows of an
overpayment” and fails to report
and return it.
 Under this law, the retention of
an overpayment beyond 60 days
constitutes an “obligation” within
the meaning of the FCA.
Overpayments
“REVERSE” FALSE CLAIMS
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 6
Qui Tam Relators
 The federal False Claims Act is a qui tam statute, meaning that private
citizens (“relators”) may file complaints alleging violations of the FCA under
seal on behalf of the U.S. Government and may receive at least 15%, but not
more than 30%, of any amount recovered, depending on whether the
government intervenes.
 Once a whistleblower files a suit, the Department of Justice
must decide whether to “intervene” (i.e., take over and prosecute the suit).
 If the government does not intervene, the case is unsealed
and the whistleblower may proceed on his/her own.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 7
The False Claims Act
EXAMPLES AND TYPES OF FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS
Inadequate
documentation of
services performed
Billing for services that
are of such poor quality
they are deemed
“worthless.”
False Certifications
Billing for Goods or
Services not Provided
Billing for the same
procedure more than
once
Upcoding
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 8
Home Health Enforcement
OTHER KEY RISK AREAS
• Medically unnecessary skilled services
• Services provided to patients who are not homebound
• Lack of a qualifying service
Medical necessity, and eligibility for home health benefit
Documentation sufficiency and compliance with CMS
requirements
• To steer beneficiaries to a particular HHA
• To provide or prescribe unnecessary care
Financial relationships with referral sources
• Interactions with referral sources
• Interactions with beneficiaries
Marketing practices
Home health aide certification and training
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
I. Government Agencies /
Contractors Involved
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 10
Federal Departments:
 Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Offices of the United States Attorneys (USAO)
 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Office of Inspector General (OIG)
• Office of Audit Services (OAS)
• Office for Civil Rights
• Office of Evaluations and Inspections (OEI)
• Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
o Center for Program Integrity (CPI): “Serves as CMS' focal point for all national and
State-wide Medicare and Medicaid programs and CHIP integrity fraud and abuse
issues.” (CMS/CPI Functional Statement)
Federal Government Agencies
CONCERTED EFFORTS TO COMBINE AND POOL RESOURCES
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 11
State Departments:
 Office of Attorney General
• Medicaid Fraud Control Unit - “Investigates and prosecutes health care
providers who defraud the Massachusetts Medicaid program, known as
MassHealth.” http://www.mass.gov/ago/bureaus/hcfc/the-medicaid-fraud-division/
 Office of Inspector General
• The Office's mission is to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in
the expenditure of public funds. http://www.mass.gov/ig/about-us/
• Bureau of Program Integrity monitors the quality, efficiency and
integrity of public benefits programs.
State Government Agencies
CONCERTED EFFORTS TO COMBINE AND POOL RESOURCES
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 12
Enforcement Environment
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENTS IN FRAUD ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
Investments in State-of-the-Art
Technologies
• CMS Fraud Prevention System
• Identified or prevented $454 million in improper
payments in FY 2014
• 10-to-1 return on investment
Investments to Increase Collaboration
• Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement
Action Team (HEAT)
• Medicare Fraud Strike Force
• Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership (HFPP)
13© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
Medicare Medicaid
Medicare Administrative Contractors
(MACs)
Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) Medicaid RACs
Zone Program Integrity Contractors
(ZPICs)
Review-of-Provider, Audit and Education
Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs)
Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT)
State Medicaid Fraud Control Units
(MFCU)
The Contractors
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 14
 Permanent program created by Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006
 Detect and correct past improper payments (over/under payments)
 Apply statutes, regulations, CMS coverage and billing policies and LCDs to
make determinations
 4 regions each with a different contractor
 Region A (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
New York) - RAC Contractor: Performant Recovery, Inc.
 Section 6411(b) of Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) expands use of RACs to all of
Medicare and not just Part A and B
RACs: What do they do?
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 15
 Created by Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization
Act of 2003
• Move away from Program Safeguard Contractor concept which divided contracts
by service line (e.g., Part A, B, Home Health, etc…)
• Part A, B, DME, Home Health and Hospice
 Detect potential fraud in a targeted way and refer to OIG/DOJ for
investigation/prosecution
 Review claims on a prospective and retrospective basis
 Initiate payment suspensions
 Respond to Request for Information from law enforcement
 Recommend administrative action against providers (e.g., exclusion,
revocation of provider number, collection of overpayment)
ZPICs: What do they do?
16© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
Billing for services not furnished
Pattern of overutilization
Vacant supplier/provider location
Medically unnecessary services
Stolen provider / beneficiary info
Schemes of collusion (e.g., kickbacks)
OIG November 2011 Report: Zone Program Integrity Contractors’ Data Issues Hinder Effective Oversight
Top ZPIC Issues
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 17
Coordinate audits with other
auditing entities
Report fraud to Medicaid Fraud
Control Units
Set limits on number and
frequency of medical records
for review
Adhere to 3 year look-back
period
Maintain 1 FTE Medical
Director who is a M.D. or D.O.
Hire certified coders unless
state determines not needed
Develop education and
outreach programs
Incentivize RACs to detect
underpayments
Medicaid RACs
STATES / RACs MUST:
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
III. Target Enforcement
Actions
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 19
FY 2015:
Expected Recoveries:
• $3 billion
 $1.13 billion in audit receivables
 $2.22 billion in investigative
receivables
Exclusions:
• 4,112 individuals and entities
Civil/Criminal Actions
• 925 criminal
• 682 civil
2016 OIG WORK PLAN
Health Care Enforcement
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 20
Home Health Enforcement
HHS-OIG PRIORITIES
OIG 2016 Work Plan – Home Health
Compliance with PPS requirements
• Review documentation required in support of claims paid by Medicare
• Determine whether home health claims were paid in accordance with federal laws
and regulations
• Prior OIG report found that one in four home health agencies had questionable
billing
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 21
 In 2013, about 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries received home health
services costing around $18 billion, from more than 12,000 HHAs
 Medicare spending for home health care has increased by 87% since 2002
• Home health care spending accounts for 4% of Medicare fee-for-service spending
• 2001-2013 – number of home health episodes rose from 3.9 to 6.7 million
• 1997-2013 – therapy visits increased from 10% to 36% of visits
 According to OIG, since 2010, nearly $1 billion in improper Medicare
payments and fraud has been identified relating to the home health benefit
Home Health Enforcement
BY THE NUMBERS
“Fraudulent home-based services are
surging across the country”
-Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson, HHS-OIG Atlanta
November 12, 2014
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 22
Home Health Care Market
Health Care Spend is Growing
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 23
Home Health Care Market
Number of Agencies are Increasing
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
IV. Recent Settlements
and Decisions
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 25
Recent Settlements and Decisions
In the News
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 26
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 May 6, 2016 - The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) settled allegations of
submitting false home health care billings to the Medicare program. UPHS paid $75,787 to
settle allegations that Penn Care at Home violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to
Medicare for services not rendered and for services that were not reasonable or necessary.
 April 18, 2016 - Henry Lora was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison and ordered to pay
$30,278,542 in restitution for conspiring to commit health care fraud and conspiring to defraud
the United States, receive health care kickbacks and make false statements relating to health
care matters. Dr. Lora was the medical director of Merfi Corporation and in exchange for
kickbacks and bribes, he wrote prescriptions for home health care and other services for
Medicare beneficiaries that were not medically necessary or not provided. Dr. Lora also falsified
patient records to make it appear as if the beneficiaries qualified for these services.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 27
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 April 18, 2016 - Diana Jocelyn Gumila, the manager of Suburban Home Physicians d/b/a Doctor
at Home, was convicted of 21 counts of health care fraud and three counts of making false
statements in a health care matter. Each count of health care fraud is punishable by up to ten
years in prison, while each false-statement count is punishable by up to five years in prison. Ms.
Gumila directed employees to perform in-home visits with patients who were physically capable
of leaving their residences and not in need of the in-home treatment. Gumila also inflated the
costs incurred by Medicare by directing employees to bill the treatment at the most complicated
levels, even though the visits were typically routine and did not qualify for the elevated billing.
Evidence at trial included an audio recording in which Gumila can be heard telling a new doctor
to “paint the picture” of patients so as to make them appear confined to their homes. Emails
from Gumila also included one in which she referred to a physician who did not read orders
before signing them as “the type of doctor we need [b]ecause he will just do what we tell him to
do.”
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 28
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 April 13, 2016 - A federal jury convicted a Dallas physician and three owners of home health
agencies on various felony offenses, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, stemming
from their participation in a nearly $375 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent
claims for home health services. Each conspiracy and health care fraud count carries a
maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The obstruction
of justice count and each false statement count carry a maximum statutory penalty of five years
in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Jacques Roy, M.D., owned/operated Medistat Group
Associates, P.A., an association of health care providers who provided home health certifications
and performed patient home visits. Cynthia Stiger and Wilbert Veasey, owned/operated Apple
of Your Eye Healthcare Services, Inc., and Charity Eleda owned/operated Charry Home Care
Services, Inc. The home health agency owners improperly recruited individuals with Medicare
coverage to sign up for Medicare home health care services when the services were not
medically necessary. Dr. Roy instructed his staff to certify Plans of Care, which indicated to
Medicare and Medicaid that a had reviewed the treatment plan and deemed it medically
necessary, when they were not. Nurses for the home health agencies also falsified visit notes to
make it appear as though skilled nursing services were being provided and continued to be
necessary.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 29
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 April 11, 2016 - Naseem Minhas, the owner and operator of TriCounty Home Care Services Inc.
(TriCounty), a home health care agency pleaded guilty for paying a physician and recruiters to
refer Medicare beneficiaries to TriCounty and sign medical documents falsely certifying that they
required home health care. Minhas, assisted in creating fake patient files to make it appear as
though the patients needed and received services that were unnecessary or not provided.
 April 5, 2016 - Mohammad Rafiq, the owner and operator of Perfect Home Health Care
(Perfect), a home health care agency, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and ordered
to pay $3.4 million in restitution for paying physicians and recruiters to refer Medicare
beneficiaries to Perfect and sign medical documents falsely certifying that they required home
health care. Rafiq also directed patient recruiters and Perfect employees to pay cash kickbacks
to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for signing multiple blank physical therapy records.
 April 1, 2016 - Carlos Rodriguez Nerey, a patient recruiter for D&D&D Home Health Inc.
(D&D&D) and Mercy Home Care, Inc. (Mercy), was convicted of conspiracy to pay and receive
health care kickbacks and of receiving health care kickbacks. Medicare paid more than $2
million to D&D&D and Mercy for those claims.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 30
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 March 30, 2016 - Dr. Warren Dailey was found guilty of conspiracy to commit health care fraud,
false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to pay and receive health care
kickbacks and payment and receipt of health care kickbacks. Dailey defrauded Medicare by
authorizing Medicare beneficiaries for home health care when such services were not needed.
Dailey agreed to sign Medicare authorization forms certifying services in exchange for a monthly
flat fee from the home health owner. Dailey falsely certified that patients were homebound,
that home health was medically necessary and that the beneficiaries were under his care. Dailey
faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 fine.
 March 24, 2016 - Amanda Moye Randolph, the former CEO of Karlise In-Home Care, a home
health care provider , was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, to be followed by three
years of supervised release, the first eight months of which must be served in some alternate
form of incarceration. Ms. Randolph was also ordered to pay $136,574 in restitution. Between
December 2008 and April 2014, Randolph knowingly concealed her employment at Karlise from
the United States Social Security Administration and the United States Department of Health
and Human Services during the application for, and continued receipt of, disability benefits and
supplement security income benefits. An accounting completed by those two agencies
concluded that Randolph received $80,735 in connection with these fraudulent schemes.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 31
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 March 24, 2016 - Muhammad Tariq, an owner of home health care and hospice companies in
the Detroit area, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Tariq
paid kickbacks, bribes and other inducements to physicians, as well as to marketers and patient
recruiters, for beneficiary referrals to companies he
 March 22, 2016 - Irina Krutoyarsky, The owner of HHCH Health Care Inc. was sentenced today to
60 months in prison for her role in a $7 million scheme to defraud Medicaid and engage in
bribery, money laundering, and tax evasion. Krutoyarsky defrauded Medicaid by submitting
false documents to the N.J. Board of Nursing, and fraudulently billing Medicaid for services not
actually rendered to patients.
 March 22, 2016 - Jenette George was convicted of violating the federal Medicare and Medicaid
Anti-Kickback Statute and faces up to 15 years in prison. Ms. George was a marketer for Rosner
Home Healthcare Inc. Between January 2008 and July 2012, Rosner officials paid kickbacks and
bribes to doctors, marketers, medical office employees and nurses for referring patients.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 32
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 March 18, 2016 - Elaine Davis and Dr. Pramela Ganji were each convicted of conspiracy to
commit health care fraud and health care fraud. Davis owned and controlled the operations of
Christian Home Health Care Inc., and Davis and Ganji caused Christian to bill Medicare for home
health care services that were not needed and/or were not provided. Davis paid employees to
recruit new patients. Christian then sent the new patients’ Medicare information to Ganji to
obtain signatures to certify that the patients qualified to receive home health care services
when they did not. Ganji had often never seen these patients and these false certifications
allowed Davis and Christian to bill Medicare for home health services and to conceal that the
services were unnecessary. Between 2007 through June 2015, Christian submitted more than
$34.4 million in claims to Medicare, a large number of which were fraudulent.
 March 17, 2016 - Carlos Medina was sentenced to 82 months in federal prison for conspiring to
commit health care fraud. In addition to his prison sentence, Mr. Medina must forfeit $3.6
million. Medina owned Doral Community Clinic Inc. and Advanced Medical of Doral Inc.
Medina’s clinics sold prescriptions that were used to facilitate submission of false and
fraudulent claims to Medicare by more than 20 home health agencies in the Miami area.
Medicare paid more than $3 million in payments as a direct result of prescriptions sold by Doral
and Advanced.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 33
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 March 2, 2016 - Mark T. Conklin, the former owner, operator and sole shareholder of Recovery
Home Care Inc. and Recovery Home Care Services Inc. (collectively RHC) has agreed to pay $1.75
million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he violated the False Claims Act by causing RHC to pay
illegal kickbacks to doctors who agreed to refer Medicare patients to RHC for home health care
services. Between 2009 and 2012, Mr. Conklin allegedly paid dozens of physicians thousands of
dollars per month to serve as sham medical directors who supposedly conducted quality reviews
of RHC patient charts. The physicians in many instances performed little or no work, but
nevertheless received thousands of dollars from RHC and the government alleged that the
payments were kickbacks intended to induce the physicians to refer their patients to RHC.
 January 25, 2016 - JoAnna M. Ochieng pleaded guilty today to income tax evasion, conspiracy to
commit health care fraud and money laundering relative to a scheme to defraud Medicaid of
$436,305. Ochieng owned Healthy Solutions Home Health Services (Healthy Solutions) which
provided nursing and home health services to Medicaid recipients and their families. Between
November 2011 and March 2013, Healthy Solutions employees, under the direction of Ms.
Ochieng, instructed parents who were providing home health care services to their children to
“swap” time sheets with other parents who were also providing home health care services to
their children, giving the false appearance that parents were providing home health services to
children other than their own.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 34
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 January 22, 2016 - Khaled Elbeblawy was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud
and wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks.
Elbeblawy was the manager of Willsand Home Health Agency Inc. and the owner of JEM Home
Health Care LLC and Healthy Choice Home Health Services Inc., all of which were home health
agencies in Miami-Dade County. Between January 2006 and May 2013, Elbeblawy used the
three companies to submit approximately $57 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare
that were based on services that were not medically necessary, were not actually provided and
were for patients who were procured through the payment of kickbacks to doctors and patient
recruiters.
 January 19, 2016 - Patricia Akamnonu, a registered nurse and an owner of Ultimate Care Home
Health Services, Inc. (Ultimate), a home health company, was sentenced to 10 years in federal
prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Patricia Akamnonu, together with her
husband, was ordered to pay approximately $25 million in restitution. Ms. Akamnonu
maintained a valid Medicare group provider number for Ultimate in order to submit Medicare
claims for home health services that were medically unnecessary or that were not provided to
Medicare beneficiaries.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 35
Recent Settlements and Decisions
 January 6, 2016 - Evelyn Odoms was sentenced to three years probation, a special assessment
of $100, and restitution in the amount of $2,055, for aiding and abetting health care fraud. Ms.
Odoms, a licensed practical nurse, was supposed to teach a patient how to treat and handle
different diagnoses, but she never observed the patient exhibit symptoms of the diagnoses and
never taught the patient about the diagnoses. Ms. Odoms falsely documented services she was
supposed to provide to the patient, documentation that Medicare relied upon to regulate
Medicare providers.
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
V. Mitigating Risks
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 37
Compliance Program Activities
 Ensuring Effectiveness
• An effective compliance program is dynamic and evolves
• One size does not fit all – an effective program is tailored to a provider’s structure
and operation
• Track guidance for government views as to what is necessary
o HHS-OIG Compliance Program Guidance
o Federal Sentencing Guidelines
o Recent CIAs
• Know your fraud and abuse risk areas – they change
Develop and implement an effective
corporate compliance program
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 38
 Audit and Monitor High Risk Areas
• Develop and adhere to a work plan that sets forth a schedule
and scope of internal reviews
• Consider periodic external reviews by independent third
parties
• Identify and refund overpayments within 60 days
 Evaluate Your Data to Identify Trends and Investigate
Outliers
Compliance Program Activities
AUDITING AND MONITORING
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 39
Top Denial Reason Codes
HOME HEALTH
32072
For home health claims (32X), the attending physician on the
PECOS physician file has a termination date present and it is
equal to or less than the claim from date of service.
The attending physician reported must be active in PECOS to be
considered a valid attending physician for the home health
patient.
55H20
This claim was denied after review. The provider’s
determination of non-coverage is correct.
The charges on this claim are beneficiary liable. The beneficiary
may be billed for these charges.
55H2B
Documentation submitted does not support homebound
status.
The medical record must contain documentation to support the
homebound status. Services should not be provided to patients
that do not meet the criteria for homebound status.
55H2C
Medical necessity not supported as there is no OASIS
present.
You must have the OASIS assessment for the episode for which
records were requested as part of the records submitted for
review.
55H3A
Skilled observation was not needed from the start of care
(SOC).
Documentation of the beneficiary’s condition must support a
covered level of care. Ensure that all records are submitted to
Medical Review, when requested, for all services provided.
55H3V Skilled nursing services were not medically necessary.
Documentation of the beneficiary’s condition must support
services. Ensure services ordered meet the eligibility
requirements.
55HTB
Medicare requirement for home health requires that a plan of
care be established by the physician.
Only a physician may establish the patient’s plan of care.
56900
Requested medical records were not received within the 45
day time limit. Therefore, we are unable to determine the
medical necessity of the services billed and this claim has
been denied.
Be sure to submit requested records as soon as possible and
within the time frame.
https://www.ngsmedicare.com
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 40
 Consider Engaging Legal Counsel to Conduct or Direct
Auditing Activities You Want Protected By Privilege
• Compliance effectiveness review
• Targeted internal investigations
 Utilize Legal Counsel to Monitor and Manage Financial
Relationships
 Ensure Background and Exclusion/Debarment Checks
Are Regularly Conducted
• Not only employees, but also independent contractors and
vendors
• Check both HHS-OIG LEIE database and GSA’s SAM database
(www.sam.gov)
• Also state Medicaid excluded provider lists
Compliance Program Activities
AUDITING AND MONITORING
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 41
Compliance Program Activities
TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Designate a
specific individual
to be responsible
for tracking and
understanding
regulatory changes
and disseminating
information to
appropriate staff
Importance of
documentation
training staff
• Certification of
plans of care
• Certification of
terminal illness
• Face-to-face visits
Focused training
for marketing staff
on interactions
with referral
sources and
beneficiaries
HHS-OIG HEAT
Provider
Compliance
Training Initiative
resources
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 42
Other Risk Mitigation Actions
Track and log
compliance
questions,
complaints and
issues raised through
the compliance
program, steps taken
to follow up, how
issues were resolved,
including corrective
and preventative
actions
Implement systems
to ensure timely
certifications, F2F
visits, therapy
reassessment visits
• EHRs can have
features built-in to
flag patients with
upcoming
requirements
• Schedule IDGs
sufficiently in
advance to help
monitor key timing
requirements
Have means to
identify disgruntled
employee or
contractor
• Publicize compliance
hotline to contractors,
vendors
• Conduct and
document exit
interviews, reviewed
by compliance officer
Monitor payor and
contractor audits for
patterns for signs of
systemic issues
• Multiple audits of
same/similar issues,
multiple RAC or ZPIC
audits
© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 43
Government Overtures
 Vary in type and intensity
• Contractor audits and additional documentation
requests
• Administrative subpoenas
• OIG subpoenas
• Civil Investigative Demands
• Grand Jury subpoenas
• Search warrant
 What to expect:
• Unannounced requests
• Clinical documentation demands
• Rigorous data analysis
• Potential for conflicting interpretation of
Medicare guidelines
44© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
 CMS Information
http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Research-Statistics-Data-and-
Systems.html
 CMS Regulation and Guidance
http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Regulations-and-Guidance.html
 CMS List Serve
https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-
MLN/MLNProducts/downloads//MailingLists_FactSheet.pdf
 Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Chapter 10 – Home Health Claims)
http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Internet-Only-Manuals-
IOMs-Items/CMS018912.html
 OIG Compliance 101 Education Materials
http://oig.hhs.gov/compliance/101/index.asp
 OIG 2016 Work Plan
http://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/workplan/index.asp#current
Useful Resources
45© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
Useful Resources
 OIG Report to Congress
https://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/semiannual/index.asp
 OIG Exclusion List
http://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/
 OIG LEIE Downloadable Database
https://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp
 GSA Excluded Party List
https://www.epls.gov
 Texas Medicaid Exclusion List
https://oig.hhsc.state.tx.us/Exclusions/Search.aspx
 HIPAA Breach Notification Rule
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/breachnotificationrule/index.html
46© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com
Useful Resources
 Medicare Fee-For-Service Appeals
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OrgMedFFSAppeals/
 Medicare Learning Network
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/
 National Government Services (NGS)
http://www.ngsmedicare.com

Más contenido relacionado

La actualidad más candente

The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...
The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...
The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...
Epstein Becker Green
 

La actualidad más candente (20)

Mental Health Parity Implementation: Are We There Yet? – Behavioral Health Cr...
Mental Health Parity Implementation: Are We There Yet? – Behavioral Health Cr...Mental Health Parity Implementation: Are We There Yet? – Behavioral Health Cr...
Mental Health Parity Implementation: Are We There Yet? – Behavioral Health Cr...
 
Delivering Care Under the MACRA Final Rule: Implementation Considerations and...
Delivering Care Under the MACRA Final Rule: Implementation Considerations and...Delivering Care Under the MACRA Final Rule: Implementation Considerations and...
Delivering Care Under the MACRA Final Rule: Implementation Considerations and...
 
Corporate Behavioral Health Care: “Not So Fast” – Behavioral Health Crash Cou...
Corporate Behavioral Health Care: “Not So Fast” – Behavioral Health Crash Cou...Corporate Behavioral Health Care: “Not So Fast” – Behavioral Health Crash Cou...
Corporate Behavioral Health Care: “Not So Fast” – Behavioral Health Crash Cou...
 
The Health Plan Board’s Role in Managing Risk
The Health Plan Board’s Role in Managing RiskThe Health Plan Board’s Role in Managing Risk
The Health Plan Board’s Role in Managing Risk
 
View from Washington Hot Topics in Health Care Regulation CMS & FDA
View from Washington Hot Topics in Health Care Regulation CMS & FDAView from Washington Hot Topics in Health Care Regulation CMS & FDA
View from Washington Hot Topics in Health Care Regulation CMS & FDA
 
Investments in Behavioral Health: Drivers and Outlook - Behavioral Health Cra...
Investments in Behavioral Health: Drivers and Outlook - Behavioral Health Cra...Investments in Behavioral Health: Drivers and Outlook - Behavioral Health Cra...
Investments in Behavioral Health: Drivers and Outlook - Behavioral Health Cra...
 
ACA Information Reporting on Forms 1094 and 1095 B&C: Getting Ready for 2017 ...
ACA Information Reporting on Forms 1094 and 1095 B&C: Getting Ready for 2017 ...ACA Information Reporting on Forms 1094 and 1095 B&C: Getting Ready for 2017 ...
ACA Information Reporting on Forms 1094 and 1095 B&C: Getting Ready for 2017 ...
 
FDA Cybersecurity Recommendations to Comply with NIST - Wearables Crash Cours...
FDA Cybersecurity Recommendations to Comply with NIST - Wearables Crash Cours...FDA Cybersecurity Recommendations to Comply with NIST - Wearables Crash Cours...
FDA Cybersecurity Recommendations to Comply with NIST - Wearables Crash Cours...
 
Health Care Fraud Investigations: What to Do When the Government Knocks
Health Care Fraud Investigations: What to Do When the Government KnocksHealth Care Fraud Investigations: What to Do When the Government Knocks
Health Care Fraud Investigations: What to Do When the Government Knocks
 
Managed Care and Behavioral Health - Behavioral Health Crash Course Webinar S...
Managed Care and Behavioral Health - Behavioral Health Crash Course Webinar S...Managed Care and Behavioral Health - Behavioral Health Crash Course Webinar S...
Managed Care and Behavioral Health - Behavioral Health Crash Course Webinar S...
 
Out-of-Network Billing: The Impact of Consumer Protection Measures on Health ...
Out-of-Network Billing: The Impact of Consumer Protection Measures on Health ...Out-of-Network Billing: The Impact of Consumer Protection Measures on Health ...
Out-of-Network Billing: The Impact of Consumer Protection Measures on Health ...
 
Digital Health Devices and Clinical Trials – Wearables Crash Course Webinar S...
Digital Health Devices and Clinical Trials – Wearables Crash Course Webinar S...Digital Health Devices and Clinical Trials – Wearables Crash Course Webinar S...
Digital Health Devices and Clinical Trials – Wearables Crash Course Webinar S...
 
Overview and Implications of the House Republican Bill
Overview and Implications of the House Republican BillOverview and Implications of the House Republican Bill
Overview and Implications of the House Republican Bill
 
OSHA Forecast: Developments to Watch in 2016 and Beyond
OSHA Forecast: Developments to Watch in 2016 and BeyondOSHA Forecast: Developments to Watch in 2016 and Beyond
OSHA Forecast: Developments to Watch in 2016 and Beyond
 
The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...
The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...
The Impact of the AMP Final Rule: Legal, Operational, and Financial Considera...
 
The 2017 Healthcare Reality: Washington Update from the Trenches
The 2017 Healthcare Reality: Washington Update from the TrenchesThe 2017 Healthcare Reality: Washington Update from the Trenches
The 2017 Healthcare Reality: Washington Update from the Trenches
 
Behavioral Health Industry Insights - 2016
Behavioral Health Industry Insights - 2016Behavioral Health Industry Insights - 2016
Behavioral Health Industry Insights - 2016
 
What’s New About Privacy and Consent for Substance Use Records? Crash Course ...
What’s New About Privacy and Consent for Substance Use Records? Crash Course ...What’s New About Privacy and Consent for Substance Use Records? Crash Course ...
What’s New About Privacy and Consent for Substance Use Records? Crash Course ...
 
The Criminalization of Health Care: White-Collar Crash Course Webinar Series
The Criminalization of Health Care: White-Collar Crash Course Webinar SeriesThe Criminalization of Health Care: White-Collar Crash Course Webinar Series
The Criminalization of Health Care: White-Collar Crash Course Webinar Series
 
SUD and Health Care Reform: Key Changes Being Considered by Congress and the ...
SUD and Health Care Reform: Key Changes Being Considered by Congress and the ...SUD and Health Care Reform: Key Changes Being Considered by Congress and the ...
SUD and Health Care Reform: Key Changes Being Considered by Congress and the ...
 

Destacado

Personalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologies
Personalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologiesPersonalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologies
Personalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologies
cancerdrg
 

Destacado (9)

Nobilis health ir deck 03.22.17
Nobilis health ir deck 03.22.17Nobilis health ir deck 03.22.17
Nobilis health ir deck 03.22.17
 
FDA’s approach to regulation of in vitro diagnostic tests
FDA’s approach to regulation of in vitro diagnostic testsFDA’s approach to regulation of in vitro diagnostic tests
FDA’s approach to regulation of in vitro diagnostic tests
 
New Diagnostics Guiding Oncology Treatment Decisions
New Diagnostics Guiding Oncology Treatment DecisionsNew Diagnostics Guiding Oncology Treatment Decisions
New Diagnostics Guiding Oncology Treatment Decisions
 
Personalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologies
Personalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologiesPersonalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologies
Personalized medicine-genetic-diagnostics-technologies
 
8. internal control new
8. internal control new8. internal control new
8. internal control new
 
Audit presentation
Audit presentationAudit presentation
Audit presentation
 
Basic Internal Auditing Presentation
Basic Internal Auditing PresentationBasic Internal Auditing Presentation
Basic Internal Auditing Presentation
 
Audit Process, Audit Procedures, Audit Planning, Auditing
Audit Process, Audit Procedures, Audit Planning, AuditingAudit Process, Audit Procedures, Audit Planning, Auditing
Audit Process, Audit Procedures, Audit Planning, Auditing
 
Slideshare Powerpoint presentation
Slideshare Powerpoint presentationSlideshare Powerpoint presentation
Slideshare Powerpoint presentation
 

Similar a Recent Investigation and Enforcement Trends: 2016 Compliance and TPL Focused Training

Commercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped Out
Commercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped OutCommercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped Out
Commercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped Out
Epstein Becker Green
 
Do States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar Series
Do States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar SeriesDo States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar Series
Do States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar Series
Epstein Becker Green
 
Life services network 2011 presentation
Life services network 2011 presentationLife services network 2011 presentation
Life services network 2011 presentation
suttermarie
 

Similar a Recent Investigation and Enforcement Trends: 2016 Compliance and TPL Focused Training (20)

What Are the Risks? Business Types Facing Increased Scrutiny: White-Collar Cr...
What Are the Risks? Business Types Facing Increased Scrutiny: White-Collar Cr...What Are the Risks? Business Types Facing Increased Scrutiny: White-Collar Cr...
What Are the Risks? Business Types Facing Increased Scrutiny: White-Collar Cr...
 
Forensic and Valuation Issues in Healthcare
Forensic and Valuation Issues in HealthcareForensic and Valuation Issues in Healthcare
Forensic and Valuation Issues in Healthcare
 
ApolloMD Compliance Training
ApolloMD Compliance Training ApolloMD Compliance Training
ApolloMD Compliance Training
 
Fraud And Abuse Legislation
Fraud And Abuse LegislationFraud And Abuse Legislation
Fraud And Abuse Legislation
 
OFCCP Gets Tough Presentation
OFCCP Gets Tough PresentationOFCCP Gets Tough Presentation
OFCCP Gets Tough Presentation
 
Commercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped Out
Commercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped OutCommercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped Out
Commercial Payor Behavioral Health Audits: How to Avoid Getting Wiped Out
 
Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2
Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2
Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2
 
Hi103 week 7 chpt 18
Hi103 week 7 chpt 18Hi103 week 7 chpt 18
Hi103 week 7 chpt 18
 
Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2
Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2
Hm300 week 8 part 2 of 2
 
Compliance in medical practices
Compliance in medical practicesCompliance in medical practices
Compliance in medical practices
 
HIPAA & OIG Compliance for Medical Billing Company Owners
HIPAA & OIG Compliance for Medical Billing Company OwnersHIPAA & OIG Compliance for Medical Billing Company Owners
HIPAA & OIG Compliance for Medical Billing Company Owners
 
Do States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar Series
Do States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar SeriesDo States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar Series
Do States Like Telehealth? – Telehealth Crash Course Webinar Series
 
The Modern Age of Fraud and Abuse Compliance
The Modern Age of Fraud and Abuse ComplianceThe Modern Age of Fraud and Abuse Compliance
The Modern Age of Fraud and Abuse Compliance
 
LEGALLY SPEAKING XXXIII
LEGALLY SPEAKING XXXIIILEGALLY SPEAKING XXXIII
LEGALLY SPEAKING XXXIII
 
LGBT Enacted Legislation per Jurisdiction
LGBT Enacted Legislation per JurisdictionLGBT Enacted Legislation per Jurisdiction
LGBT Enacted Legislation per Jurisdiction
 
Buy-In Report
Buy-In ReportBuy-In Report
Buy-In Report
 
Fraud and Medicare Compliance - PSOW 2015
Fraud and Medicare Compliance - PSOW 2015Fraud and Medicare Compliance - PSOW 2015
Fraud and Medicare Compliance - PSOW 2015
 
Life services network 2011 presentation
Life services network 2011 presentationLife services network 2011 presentation
Life services network 2011 presentation
 
Washington Update
Washington UpdateWashington Update
Washington Update
 
Medical Device Industry - Government Investigations
Medical Device Industry - Government Investigations  Medical Device Industry - Government Investigations
Medical Device Industry - Government Investigations
 

Más de Epstein Becker Green

Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...
Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...
Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...
Epstein Becker Green
 
Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...
Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...
Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...
Epstein Becker Green
 
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform Companies
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform CompaniesEmployee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform Companies
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform Companies
Epstein Becker Green
 
Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...
Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...
Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...
Epstein Becker Green
 
Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...
Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...
Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...
Epstein Becker Green
 

Más de Epstein Becker Green (20)

Epstein Becker Green 2020 Annual Report
Epstein Becker Green 2020 Annual ReportEpstein Becker Green 2020 Annual Report
Epstein Becker Green 2020 Annual Report
 
Office-Based Opioid Treatment: What You Need to Know: Trends in Behavioral He...
Office-Based Opioid Treatment: What You Need to Know: Trends in Behavioral He...Office-Based Opioid Treatment: What You Need to Know: Trends in Behavioral He...
Office-Based Opioid Treatment: What You Need to Know: Trends in Behavioral He...
 
Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...
Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...
Marketing Best Practices in Light of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities...
 
How the Opioid Crisis and the SUPPORT Act Created a New Enforcement Reality: ...
How the Opioid Crisis and the SUPPORT Act Created a New Enforcement Reality: ...How the Opioid Crisis and the SUPPORT Act Created a New Enforcement Reality: ...
How the Opioid Crisis and the SUPPORT Act Created a New Enforcement Reality: ...
 
Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...
Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...
Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Developments and Trends: A Year in Review and L...
 
Unpacking the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act: Trends in Behavioral ...
Unpacking the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act: Trends in Behavioral ...Unpacking the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act: Trends in Behavioral ...
Unpacking the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act: Trends in Behavioral ...
 
Drug Medi-Cal's ODS Waiver: Is Your Organization Ready for the Next Steps?
Drug Medi-Cal's ODS Waiver: Is Your Organization Ready for the Next Steps?Drug Medi-Cal's ODS Waiver: Is Your Organization Ready for the Next Steps?
Drug Medi-Cal's ODS Waiver: Is Your Organization Ready for the Next Steps?
 
Mystified by MAT? Navigating the Changing Regulatory Landscape Around Medicat...
Mystified by MAT? Navigating the Changing Regulatory Landscape Around Medicat...Mystified by MAT? Navigating the Changing Regulatory Landscape Around Medicat...
Mystified by MAT? Navigating the Changing Regulatory Landscape Around Medicat...
 
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform Companies
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform CompaniesEmployee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform Companies
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation - Private Equity Platform Companies
 
Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...
Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...
Proactive Health Care Regulatory Compliance - Proactive Compliance Initiative...
 
FDA Medical Device Recalls: Now and Then
FDA Medical Device Recalls: Now and ThenFDA Medical Device Recalls: Now and Then
FDA Medical Device Recalls: Now and Then
 
Proactive compliance initiatives for private equity platform companies proac...
Proactive compliance initiatives for private equity platform companies  proac...Proactive compliance initiatives for private equity platform companies  proac...
Proactive compliance initiatives for private equity platform companies proac...
 
Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...
Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...
Add-On Diligence Strategy: Proactive Compliance Initiatives for Private Equit...
 
Immediate Post-Closing Operational Fixes: Proactive Compliance for Private Eq...
Immediate Post-Closing Operational Fixes: Proactive Compliance for Private Eq...Immediate Post-Closing Operational Fixes: Proactive Compliance for Private Eq...
Immediate Post-Closing Operational Fixes: Proactive Compliance for Private Eq...
 
Patient Brokering: SB1228 and Changes in California's Regulation of Addiction...
Patient Brokering: SB1228 and Changes in California's Regulation of Addiction...Patient Brokering: SB1228 and Changes in California's Regulation of Addiction...
Patient Brokering: SB1228 and Changes in California's Regulation of Addiction...
 
Telehealth Portal Essentials – Telehealth Essentials for Start-Ups Crash Cour...
Telehealth Portal Essentials – Telehealth Essentials for Start-Ups Crash Cour...Telehealth Portal Essentials – Telehealth Essentials for Start-Ups Crash Cour...
Telehealth Portal Essentials – Telehealth Essentials for Start-Ups Crash Cour...
 
Non-Compete Agreements: Key Considerations for Health Care Employers
Non-Compete Agreements: Key Considerations for Health Care EmployersNon-Compete Agreements: Key Considerations for Health Care Employers
Non-Compete Agreements: Key Considerations for Health Care Employers
 
Choosing Initial and Expansion States for Your Telehealth Practice – Essentia...
Choosing Initial and Expansion States for Your Telehealth Practice – Essentia...Choosing Initial and Expansion States for Your Telehealth Practice – Essentia...
Choosing Initial and Expansion States for Your Telehealth Practice – Essentia...
 
Recent Developments in Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility in the Workforce
Recent Developments in Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility in the WorkforceRecent Developments in Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility in the Workforce
Recent Developments in Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility in the Workforce
 
Post-Acute Preferred Provider Arrangements – Strategies for Partnership: Post...
Post-Acute Preferred Provider Arrangements – Strategies for Partnership: Post...Post-Acute Preferred Provider Arrangements – Strategies for Partnership: Post...
Post-Acute Preferred Provider Arrangements – Strategies for Partnership: Post...
 

Último

Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024
Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024
Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024
Sheetaleventcompany
 
bhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
bhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meetbhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
bhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
Bareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetBareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
Call Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in Anantapur
Call Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in AnantapurCall Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in Anantapur
Call Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in Anantapur
gragmanisha42
 
kochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
kochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meetkochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
kochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
Sambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Sambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetSambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Sambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
VIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near Me
VIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near MeVIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near Me
VIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near Me
mriyagarg453
 
Hubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Hubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetHubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Hubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
Patna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Patna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetPatna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Patna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...
Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...
Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...
Sheetaleventcompany
 
jabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
jabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meetjabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
jabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
Ernakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Ernakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetErnakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Ernakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Chandigarh
 
Call Girls Service In Goa 💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls By Russian Call Girl...
Call Girls Service In Goa  💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls  By Russian Call Girl...Call Girls Service In Goa  💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls  By Russian Call Girl...
Call Girls Service In Goa 💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls By Russian Call Girl...
russian goa call girl and escorts service
 
Bihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetBihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 
Mangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Mangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetMangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Mangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Call Girls Service
 

Último (20)

Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024
Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024
Top 20 Famous Indian Female Pornstars Name List 2024
 
bhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
bhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meetbhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
bhopal Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Bareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetBareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bareilly Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Call Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in Anantapur
Call Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in AnantapurCall Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in Anantapur
Call Girls Service Anantapur 📲 6297143586 Book Now VIP Call Girls in Anantapur
 
kochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
kochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meetkochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
kochi Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Kolkata Call Girls Miss Inaaya ❤️ at @30% discount Everyday Call girl
Kolkata Call Girls Miss Inaaya ❤️ at @30% discount Everyday Call girlKolkata Call Girls Miss Inaaya ❤️ at @30% discount Everyday Call girl
Kolkata Call Girls Miss Inaaya ❤️ at @30% discount Everyday Call girl
 
❤️Call girls in Jalandhar ☎️9876848877☎️ Call Girl service in Jalandhar☎️ Jal...
❤️Call girls in Jalandhar ☎️9876848877☎️ Call Girl service in Jalandhar☎️ Jal...❤️Call girls in Jalandhar ☎️9876848877☎️ Call Girl service in Jalandhar☎️ Jal...
❤️Call girls in Jalandhar ☎️9876848877☎️ Call Girl service in Jalandhar☎️ Jal...
 
Sambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Sambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetSambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Sambalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
VIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near Me
VIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near MeVIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near Me
VIP Call Girls Noida Sia 9711199171 High Class Call Girl Near Me
 
Call Now ☎ 9999965857 !! Call Girls in Hauz Khas Escort Service Delhi N.C.R.
Call Now ☎ 9999965857 !! Call Girls in Hauz Khas Escort Service Delhi N.C.R.Call Now ☎ 9999965857 !! Call Girls in Hauz Khas Escort Service Delhi N.C.R.
Call Now ☎ 9999965857 !! Call Girls in Hauz Khas Escort Service Delhi N.C.R.
 
Krishnagiri call girls Tamil Actress sex service 7877702510
Krishnagiri call girls Tamil Actress sex service 7877702510Krishnagiri call girls Tamil Actress sex service 7877702510
Krishnagiri call girls Tamil Actress sex service 7877702510
 
Hubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Hubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetHubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Hubli Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Patna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Patna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetPatna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Patna Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...
Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...
Premium Call Girls Bangalore {7304373326} ❤️VVIP POOJA Call Girls in Bangalor...
 
Dehradun Call Girls 8854095900 Call Girl in Dehradun Uttrakhand
Dehradun Call Girls 8854095900 Call Girl in Dehradun  UttrakhandDehradun Call Girls 8854095900 Call Girl in Dehradun  Uttrakhand
Dehradun Call Girls 8854095900 Call Girl in Dehradun Uttrakhand
 
jabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
jabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meetjabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
jabalpur Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Ernakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Ernakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetErnakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Ernakulam Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Call Girls Service In Goa 💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls By Russian Call Girl...
Call Girls Service In Goa  💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls  By Russian Call Girl...Call Girls Service In Goa  💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls  By Russian Call Girl...
Call Girls Service In Goa 💋 9316020077💋 Goa Call Girls By Russian Call Girl...
 
Bihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetBihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Bihar Sharif Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 
Mangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Mangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real MeetMangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
Mangalore Call Girls 👙 6297143586 👙 Genuine WhatsApp Number for Real Meet
 

Recent Investigation and Enforcement Trends: 2016 Compliance and TPL Focused Training

  • 1. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. ebglaw.com RECENT INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT TRENDS 2016 Compliance and TPL Focused Training Boston, Massachusetts June 10, 2016Mark S. Armstrong Member of the Firm EPSTEIN, BECKER & GREEN, P.C. Houston, Texas
  • 2. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 2 I. Overview of the False Claims Act II. Government Agencies / Contractors Involved III. Targeted Enforcement Actions IV. Recent Settlements and Decisions V. Mitigating Risks Recent Investigation and Enforcement Trends
  • 3. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com I. Overview of the False Claims Act
  • 4. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 4  The False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, et. seq., authorizes the United States, or private parties, known as “relators”, acting on behalf of the United States, to recover monetary damages from parties who submit, or cause others to submit, fraudulent claims for payment by the federal government.  Key Points: • Liability for submitting, or causing to be submitted, a false or fraudulent claim for payment; making or causing to be made a false record or statement in order to secure payment of a claim; or conspiring to get a false or fraudulent claim paid. • Materiality: The falsehood was material to the decision to pay the claim. • Scienter: “knew or should have known”; “deliberate ignorance” of truth or falsity; “reckless disregard” of the truth or falsity of the claim. The False Claims Act THE GOVERNMENT’S FAVORITE WEAPON No Specific Intent Needed
  • 5. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 5  Penalties can be imposed on anyone who “knows of an overpayment” and fails to report and return it.  Under this law, the retention of an overpayment beyond 60 days constitutes an “obligation” within the meaning of the FCA. Overpayments “REVERSE” FALSE CLAIMS
  • 6. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 6 Qui Tam Relators  The federal False Claims Act is a qui tam statute, meaning that private citizens (“relators”) may file complaints alleging violations of the FCA under seal on behalf of the U.S. Government and may receive at least 15%, but not more than 30%, of any amount recovered, depending on whether the government intervenes.  Once a whistleblower files a suit, the Department of Justice must decide whether to “intervene” (i.e., take over and prosecute the suit).  If the government does not intervene, the case is unsealed and the whistleblower may proceed on his/her own.
  • 7. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 7 The False Claims Act EXAMPLES AND TYPES OF FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS Inadequate documentation of services performed Billing for services that are of such poor quality they are deemed “worthless.” False Certifications Billing for Goods or Services not Provided Billing for the same procedure more than once Upcoding
  • 8. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 8 Home Health Enforcement OTHER KEY RISK AREAS • Medically unnecessary skilled services • Services provided to patients who are not homebound • Lack of a qualifying service Medical necessity, and eligibility for home health benefit Documentation sufficiency and compliance with CMS requirements • To steer beneficiaries to a particular HHA • To provide or prescribe unnecessary care Financial relationships with referral sources • Interactions with referral sources • Interactions with beneficiaries Marketing practices Home health aide certification and training
  • 9. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com I. Government Agencies / Contractors Involved
  • 10. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 10 Federal Departments:  Department of Justice (DOJ) • Offices of the United States Attorneys (USAO)  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) • Office of Inspector General (OIG) • Office of Audit Services (OAS) • Office for Civil Rights • Office of Evaluations and Inspections (OEI) • Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) o Center for Program Integrity (CPI): “Serves as CMS' focal point for all national and State-wide Medicare and Medicaid programs and CHIP integrity fraud and abuse issues.” (CMS/CPI Functional Statement) Federal Government Agencies CONCERTED EFFORTS TO COMBINE AND POOL RESOURCES
  • 11. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 11 State Departments:  Office of Attorney General • Medicaid Fraud Control Unit - “Investigates and prosecutes health care providers who defraud the Massachusetts Medicaid program, known as MassHealth.” http://www.mass.gov/ago/bureaus/hcfc/the-medicaid-fraud-division/  Office of Inspector General • The Office's mission is to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in the expenditure of public funds. http://www.mass.gov/ig/about-us/ • Bureau of Program Integrity monitors the quality, efficiency and integrity of public benefits programs. State Government Agencies CONCERTED EFFORTS TO COMBINE AND POOL RESOURCES
  • 12. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 12 Enforcement Environment GOVERNMENT INVESTMENTS IN FRAUD ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES Investments in State-of-the-Art Technologies • CMS Fraud Prevention System • Identified or prevented $454 million in improper payments in FY 2014 • 10-to-1 return on investment Investments to Increase Collaboration • Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) • Medicare Fraud Strike Force • Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership (HFPP)
  • 13. 13© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com Medicare Medicaid Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) Medicaid RACs Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs) Review-of-Provider, Audit and Education Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs) Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) State Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCU) The Contractors
  • 14. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 14  Permanent program created by Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006  Detect and correct past improper payments (over/under payments)  Apply statutes, regulations, CMS coverage and billing policies and LCDs to make determinations  4 regions each with a different contractor  Region A (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York) - RAC Contractor: Performant Recovery, Inc.  Section 6411(b) of Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) expands use of RACs to all of Medicare and not just Part A and B RACs: What do they do?
  • 15. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 15  Created by Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 • Move away from Program Safeguard Contractor concept which divided contracts by service line (e.g., Part A, B, Home Health, etc…) • Part A, B, DME, Home Health and Hospice  Detect potential fraud in a targeted way and refer to OIG/DOJ for investigation/prosecution  Review claims on a prospective and retrospective basis  Initiate payment suspensions  Respond to Request for Information from law enforcement  Recommend administrative action against providers (e.g., exclusion, revocation of provider number, collection of overpayment) ZPICs: What do they do?
  • 16. 16© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com Billing for services not furnished Pattern of overutilization Vacant supplier/provider location Medically unnecessary services Stolen provider / beneficiary info Schemes of collusion (e.g., kickbacks) OIG November 2011 Report: Zone Program Integrity Contractors’ Data Issues Hinder Effective Oversight Top ZPIC Issues
  • 17. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 17 Coordinate audits with other auditing entities Report fraud to Medicaid Fraud Control Units Set limits on number and frequency of medical records for review Adhere to 3 year look-back period Maintain 1 FTE Medical Director who is a M.D. or D.O. Hire certified coders unless state determines not needed Develop education and outreach programs Incentivize RACs to detect underpayments Medicaid RACs STATES / RACs MUST:
  • 18. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com III. Target Enforcement Actions
  • 19. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 19 FY 2015: Expected Recoveries: • $3 billion  $1.13 billion in audit receivables  $2.22 billion in investigative receivables Exclusions: • 4,112 individuals and entities Civil/Criminal Actions • 925 criminal • 682 civil 2016 OIG WORK PLAN Health Care Enforcement
  • 20. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 20 Home Health Enforcement HHS-OIG PRIORITIES OIG 2016 Work Plan – Home Health Compliance with PPS requirements • Review documentation required in support of claims paid by Medicare • Determine whether home health claims were paid in accordance with federal laws and regulations • Prior OIG report found that one in four home health agencies had questionable billing
  • 21. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 21  In 2013, about 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries received home health services costing around $18 billion, from more than 12,000 HHAs  Medicare spending for home health care has increased by 87% since 2002 • Home health care spending accounts for 4% of Medicare fee-for-service spending • 2001-2013 – number of home health episodes rose from 3.9 to 6.7 million • 1997-2013 – therapy visits increased from 10% to 36% of visits  According to OIG, since 2010, nearly $1 billion in improper Medicare payments and fraud has been identified relating to the home health benefit Home Health Enforcement BY THE NUMBERS “Fraudulent home-based services are surging across the country” -Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson, HHS-OIG Atlanta November 12, 2014
  • 22. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 22 Home Health Care Market Health Care Spend is Growing
  • 23. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 23 Home Health Care Market Number of Agencies are Increasing
  • 24. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com IV. Recent Settlements and Decisions
  • 25. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 25 Recent Settlements and Decisions In the News
  • 26. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 26 Recent Settlements and Decisions  May 6, 2016 - The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) settled allegations of submitting false home health care billings to the Medicare program. UPHS paid $75,787 to settle allegations that Penn Care at Home violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for services not rendered and for services that were not reasonable or necessary.  April 18, 2016 - Henry Lora was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $30,278,542 in restitution for conspiring to commit health care fraud and conspiring to defraud the United States, receive health care kickbacks and make false statements relating to health care matters. Dr. Lora was the medical director of Merfi Corporation and in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, he wrote prescriptions for home health care and other services for Medicare beneficiaries that were not medically necessary or not provided. Dr. Lora also falsified patient records to make it appear as if the beneficiaries qualified for these services.
  • 27. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 27 Recent Settlements and Decisions  April 18, 2016 - Diana Jocelyn Gumila, the manager of Suburban Home Physicians d/b/a Doctor at Home, was convicted of 21 counts of health care fraud and three counts of making false statements in a health care matter. Each count of health care fraud is punishable by up to ten years in prison, while each false-statement count is punishable by up to five years in prison. Ms. Gumila directed employees to perform in-home visits with patients who were physically capable of leaving their residences and not in need of the in-home treatment. Gumila also inflated the costs incurred by Medicare by directing employees to bill the treatment at the most complicated levels, even though the visits were typically routine and did not qualify for the elevated billing. Evidence at trial included an audio recording in which Gumila can be heard telling a new doctor to “paint the picture” of patients so as to make them appear confined to their homes. Emails from Gumila also included one in which she referred to a physician who did not read orders before signing them as “the type of doctor we need [b]ecause he will just do what we tell him to do.”
  • 28. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 28 Recent Settlements and Decisions  April 13, 2016 - A federal jury convicted a Dallas physician and three owners of home health agencies on various felony offenses, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, stemming from their participation in a nearly $375 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent claims for home health services. Each conspiracy and health care fraud count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The obstruction of justice count and each false statement count carry a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Jacques Roy, M.D., owned/operated Medistat Group Associates, P.A., an association of health care providers who provided home health certifications and performed patient home visits. Cynthia Stiger and Wilbert Veasey, owned/operated Apple of Your Eye Healthcare Services, Inc., and Charity Eleda owned/operated Charry Home Care Services, Inc. The home health agency owners improperly recruited individuals with Medicare coverage to sign up for Medicare home health care services when the services were not medically necessary. Dr. Roy instructed his staff to certify Plans of Care, which indicated to Medicare and Medicaid that a had reviewed the treatment plan and deemed it medically necessary, when they were not. Nurses for the home health agencies also falsified visit notes to make it appear as though skilled nursing services were being provided and continued to be necessary.
  • 29. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 29 Recent Settlements and Decisions  April 11, 2016 - Naseem Minhas, the owner and operator of TriCounty Home Care Services Inc. (TriCounty), a home health care agency pleaded guilty for paying a physician and recruiters to refer Medicare beneficiaries to TriCounty and sign medical documents falsely certifying that they required home health care. Minhas, assisted in creating fake patient files to make it appear as though the patients needed and received services that were unnecessary or not provided.  April 5, 2016 - Mohammad Rafiq, the owner and operator of Perfect Home Health Care (Perfect), a home health care agency, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $3.4 million in restitution for paying physicians and recruiters to refer Medicare beneficiaries to Perfect and sign medical documents falsely certifying that they required home health care. Rafiq also directed patient recruiters and Perfect employees to pay cash kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for signing multiple blank physical therapy records.  April 1, 2016 - Carlos Rodriguez Nerey, a patient recruiter for D&D&D Home Health Inc. (D&D&D) and Mercy Home Care, Inc. (Mercy), was convicted of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and of receiving health care kickbacks. Medicare paid more than $2 million to D&D&D and Mercy for those claims.
  • 30. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 30 Recent Settlements and Decisions  March 30, 2016 - Dr. Warren Dailey was found guilty of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, false statements relating to health care matters, conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and payment and receipt of health care kickbacks. Dailey defrauded Medicare by authorizing Medicare beneficiaries for home health care when such services were not needed. Dailey agreed to sign Medicare authorization forms certifying services in exchange for a monthly flat fee from the home health owner. Dailey falsely certified that patients were homebound, that home health was medically necessary and that the beneficiaries were under his care. Dailey faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 fine.  March 24, 2016 - Amanda Moye Randolph, the former CEO of Karlise In-Home Care, a home health care provider , was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, the first eight months of which must be served in some alternate form of incarceration. Ms. Randolph was also ordered to pay $136,574 in restitution. Between December 2008 and April 2014, Randolph knowingly concealed her employment at Karlise from the United States Social Security Administration and the United States Department of Health and Human Services during the application for, and continued receipt of, disability benefits and supplement security income benefits. An accounting completed by those two agencies concluded that Randolph received $80,735 in connection with these fraudulent schemes.
  • 31. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 31 Recent Settlements and Decisions  March 24, 2016 - Muhammad Tariq, an owner of home health care and hospice companies in the Detroit area, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Tariq paid kickbacks, bribes and other inducements to physicians, as well as to marketers and patient recruiters, for beneficiary referrals to companies he  March 22, 2016 - Irina Krutoyarsky, The owner of HHCH Health Care Inc. was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for her role in a $7 million scheme to defraud Medicaid and engage in bribery, money laundering, and tax evasion. Krutoyarsky defrauded Medicaid by submitting false documents to the N.J. Board of Nursing, and fraudulently billing Medicaid for services not actually rendered to patients.  March 22, 2016 - Jenette George was convicted of violating the federal Medicare and Medicaid Anti-Kickback Statute and faces up to 15 years in prison. Ms. George was a marketer for Rosner Home Healthcare Inc. Between January 2008 and July 2012, Rosner officials paid kickbacks and bribes to doctors, marketers, medical office employees and nurses for referring patients.
  • 32. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 32 Recent Settlements and Decisions  March 18, 2016 - Elaine Davis and Dr. Pramela Ganji were each convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud. Davis owned and controlled the operations of Christian Home Health Care Inc., and Davis and Ganji caused Christian to bill Medicare for home health care services that were not needed and/or were not provided. Davis paid employees to recruit new patients. Christian then sent the new patients’ Medicare information to Ganji to obtain signatures to certify that the patients qualified to receive home health care services when they did not. Ganji had often never seen these patients and these false certifications allowed Davis and Christian to bill Medicare for home health services and to conceal that the services were unnecessary. Between 2007 through June 2015, Christian submitted more than $34.4 million in claims to Medicare, a large number of which were fraudulent.  March 17, 2016 - Carlos Medina was sentenced to 82 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit health care fraud. In addition to his prison sentence, Mr. Medina must forfeit $3.6 million. Medina owned Doral Community Clinic Inc. and Advanced Medical of Doral Inc. Medina’s clinics sold prescriptions that were used to facilitate submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare by more than 20 home health agencies in the Miami area. Medicare paid more than $3 million in payments as a direct result of prescriptions sold by Doral and Advanced.
  • 33. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 33 Recent Settlements and Decisions  March 2, 2016 - Mark T. Conklin, the former owner, operator and sole shareholder of Recovery Home Care Inc. and Recovery Home Care Services Inc. (collectively RHC) has agreed to pay $1.75 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he violated the False Claims Act by causing RHC to pay illegal kickbacks to doctors who agreed to refer Medicare patients to RHC for home health care services. Between 2009 and 2012, Mr. Conklin allegedly paid dozens of physicians thousands of dollars per month to serve as sham medical directors who supposedly conducted quality reviews of RHC patient charts. The physicians in many instances performed little or no work, but nevertheless received thousands of dollars from RHC and the government alleged that the payments were kickbacks intended to induce the physicians to refer their patients to RHC.  January 25, 2016 - JoAnna M. Ochieng pleaded guilty today to income tax evasion, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering relative to a scheme to defraud Medicaid of $436,305. Ochieng owned Healthy Solutions Home Health Services (Healthy Solutions) which provided nursing and home health services to Medicaid recipients and their families. Between November 2011 and March 2013, Healthy Solutions employees, under the direction of Ms. Ochieng, instructed parents who were providing home health care services to their children to “swap” time sheets with other parents who were also providing home health care services to their children, giving the false appearance that parents were providing home health services to children other than their own.
  • 34. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 34 Recent Settlements and Decisions  January 22, 2016 - Khaled Elbeblawy was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks. Elbeblawy was the manager of Willsand Home Health Agency Inc. and the owner of JEM Home Health Care LLC and Healthy Choice Home Health Services Inc., all of which were home health agencies in Miami-Dade County. Between January 2006 and May 2013, Elbeblawy used the three companies to submit approximately $57 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare that were based on services that were not medically necessary, were not actually provided and were for patients who were procured through the payment of kickbacks to doctors and patient recruiters.  January 19, 2016 - Patricia Akamnonu, a registered nurse and an owner of Ultimate Care Home Health Services, Inc. (Ultimate), a home health company, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Patricia Akamnonu, together with her husband, was ordered to pay approximately $25 million in restitution. Ms. Akamnonu maintained a valid Medicare group provider number for Ultimate in order to submit Medicare claims for home health services that were medically unnecessary or that were not provided to Medicare beneficiaries.
  • 35. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 35 Recent Settlements and Decisions  January 6, 2016 - Evelyn Odoms was sentenced to three years probation, a special assessment of $100, and restitution in the amount of $2,055, for aiding and abetting health care fraud. Ms. Odoms, a licensed practical nurse, was supposed to teach a patient how to treat and handle different diagnoses, but she never observed the patient exhibit symptoms of the diagnoses and never taught the patient about the diagnoses. Ms. Odoms falsely documented services she was supposed to provide to the patient, documentation that Medicare relied upon to regulate Medicare providers.
  • 36. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com V. Mitigating Risks
  • 37. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 37 Compliance Program Activities  Ensuring Effectiveness • An effective compliance program is dynamic and evolves • One size does not fit all – an effective program is tailored to a provider’s structure and operation • Track guidance for government views as to what is necessary o HHS-OIG Compliance Program Guidance o Federal Sentencing Guidelines o Recent CIAs • Know your fraud and abuse risk areas – they change Develop and implement an effective corporate compliance program
  • 38. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 38  Audit and Monitor High Risk Areas • Develop and adhere to a work plan that sets forth a schedule and scope of internal reviews • Consider periodic external reviews by independent third parties • Identify and refund overpayments within 60 days  Evaluate Your Data to Identify Trends and Investigate Outliers Compliance Program Activities AUDITING AND MONITORING
  • 39. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 39 Top Denial Reason Codes HOME HEALTH 32072 For home health claims (32X), the attending physician on the PECOS physician file has a termination date present and it is equal to or less than the claim from date of service. The attending physician reported must be active in PECOS to be considered a valid attending physician for the home health patient. 55H20 This claim was denied after review. The provider’s determination of non-coverage is correct. The charges on this claim are beneficiary liable. The beneficiary may be billed for these charges. 55H2B Documentation submitted does not support homebound status. The medical record must contain documentation to support the homebound status. Services should not be provided to patients that do not meet the criteria for homebound status. 55H2C Medical necessity not supported as there is no OASIS present. You must have the OASIS assessment for the episode for which records were requested as part of the records submitted for review. 55H3A Skilled observation was not needed from the start of care (SOC). Documentation of the beneficiary’s condition must support a covered level of care. Ensure that all records are submitted to Medical Review, when requested, for all services provided. 55H3V Skilled nursing services were not medically necessary. Documentation of the beneficiary’s condition must support services. Ensure services ordered meet the eligibility requirements. 55HTB Medicare requirement for home health requires that a plan of care be established by the physician. Only a physician may establish the patient’s plan of care. 56900 Requested medical records were not received within the 45 day time limit. Therefore, we are unable to determine the medical necessity of the services billed and this claim has been denied. Be sure to submit requested records as soon as possible and within the time frame. https://www.ngsmedicare.com
  • 40. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 40  Consider Engaging Legal Counsel to Conduct or Direct Auditing Activities You Want Protected By Privilege • Compliance effectiveness review • Targeted internal investigations  Utilize Legal Counsel to Monitor and Manage Financial Relationships  Ensure Background and Exclusion/Debarment Checks Are Regularly Conducted • Not only employees, but also independent contractors and vendors • Check both HHS-OIG LEIE database and GSA’s SAM database (www.sam.gov) • Also state Medicaid excluded provider lists Compliance Program Activities AUDITING AND MONITORING
  • 41. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 41 Compliance Program Activities TRAINING AND EDUCATION Designate a specific individual to be responsible for tracking and understanding regulatory changes and disseminating information to appropriate staff Importance of documentation training staff • Certification of plans of care • Certification of terminal illness • Face-to-face visits Focused training for marketing staff on interactions with referral sources and beneficiaries HHS-OIG HEAT Provider Compliance Training Initiative resources
  • 42. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 42 Other Risk Mitigation Actions Track and log compliance questions, complaints and issues raised through the compliance program, steps taken to follow up, how issues were resolved, including corrective and preventative actions Implement systems to ensure timely certifications, F2F visits, therapy reassessment visits • EHRs can have features built-in to flag patients with upcoming requirements • Schedule IDGs sufficiently in advance to help monitor key timing requirements Have means to identify disgruntled employee or contractor • Publicize compliance hotline to contractors, vendors • Conduct and document exit interviews, reviewed by compliance officer Monitor payor and contractor audits for patterns for signs of systemic issues • Multiple audits of same/similar issues, multiple RAC or ZPIC audits
  • 43. © 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com 43 Government Overtures  Vary in type and intensity • Contractor audits and additional documentation requests • Administrative subpoenas • OIG subpoenas • Civil Investigative Demands • Grand Jury subpoenas • Search warrant  What to expect: • Unannounced requests • Clinical documentation demands • Rigorous data analysis • Potential for conflicting interpretation of Medicare guidelines
  • 44. 44© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com  CMS Information http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Research-Statistics-Data-and- Systems.html  CMS Regulation and Guidance http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Regulations-and-Guidance.html  CMS List Serve https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network- MLN/MLNProducts/downloads//MailingLists_FactSheet.pdf  Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Chapter 10 – Home Health Claims) http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Internet-Only-Manuals- IOMs-Items/CMS018912.html  OIG Compliance 101 Education Materials http://oig.hhs.gov/compliance/101/index.asp  OIG 2016 Work Plan http://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/workplan/index.asp#current Useful Resources
  • 45. 45© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com Useful Resources  OIG Report to Congress https://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/semiannual/index.asp  OIG Exclusion List http://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/  OIG LEIE Downloadable Database https://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp  GSA Excluded Party List https://www.epls.gov  Texas Medicaid Exclusion List https://oig.hhsc.state.tx.us/Exclusions/Search.aspx  HIPAA Breach Notification Rule http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/breachnotificationrule/index.html
  • 46. 46© 2014 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. | All Rights Reserved. | ebglaw.com Useful Resources  Medicare Fee-For-Service Appeals http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OrgMedFFSAppeals/  Medicare Learning Network http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/  National Government Services (NGS) http://www.ngsmedicare.com