Physical provider, voice and occupational therapy services agrees to $ 38 million False Settlement Act of claim

Physical provider, voice and occupational therapy services agrees to $ 38 million False Settlement Act of claim -

SUPPLIER OF PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES SPEECH AND AGREES TO 38,000 $ .000 REGULATION False Claims Act

As announced in a recent press release, healthcare services Extended, Inc. ( "Extendicare"), an operator of skilled nursing facilities, and its subsidiary, Step Progressive Corporation ( "Step Pro"), a physical supplier, speech, and occupational rehabilitation services, has reached an agreement to settle allegations that, in part, Pro Step billed Medicare for services medically unreasonable and unnecessary rehabilitation. In addition to the alleged substandard related resolution skilled nursing services, the settlement resolves allegations that Extendicare provided medically unreasonable rehabilitation and unnecessary beneficiaries to Medicare Part A, particularly during periods of reference of patient assessment, for this purpose for Extendicare to bill Medicare better per diem rates for patients.

In addition to the settlement agreement, Extendicare has agreed a Corporate Integrity with the Office of the Inspector General to promote respect for Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs. The Corporate Integrity Agreement ( "CIA") runs for a period of five (5) years and has significant obligations to Extendicare. These obligations include the requirements for establishing a compliance program and to appoint a compliance officer; appoint a compliance committee, among other things, to establish an internal quality audit and review program; establish a personnel review committee; and develop a code of conduct and written policies and procedures, including extensive policies and procedures for the provision, management and monitoring of rehabilitation therapy services. In addition, the CIA requires general training, training related to specific individual responsibilities, and training on quality of care issues. The CIA also requires that an independent review organization is committed to conducting independent reviews and Extendicare objectives of compliance obligations, including those related to rehabilitation therapy systems.

The above case is yet another illustration of the importance of ensuring that rehabilitation services are provided in accordance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. It also serves as a good reminder of the need for rehabilitation providers to continually examine whether their compliance programs are sufficient to promote a culture of respect and avoid regulatory review.

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Paul J. Welk

Paul is president of technology Tucker Arensberg Health law Attorneys / Health information Industry Group and focuses his practice on corporate law and Health care. As such, it represents physiotherapists, doctors, dentists, nonprofit organizations, professional organizations and other entities and commercial companies.

Some of the operations and recent clients, he has worked on include the representation of

• multiple physiotherapy professional associations State on a variety of issues
• private multiple physiotherapy practices with the development and implementation of property succession plans
• a venture capital firm with the dollar acquisition of shares of a target company $ 13 million
• therapy providers multiple physical in successful calls third-party payers
• multiple buyers of real estate assets and associated dental practices
• multiple physical therapy providers regarding the transfer of partial ownership and trading of governance and Documents shareholders
• physiotherapy multiple providers with assets and stock acquisitions and disposals
• a manufacturing company to negotiate a purchase of shareholder disputes and stocks
• a service provider to negotiate a yearly service contract for $ 5 million
• a listed company regarding the merger of two wholly owned subsidiaries
• two listed companies regarding the ongoing review of the distribution contracts, supply and service
• a seller of a skilled nursing and real estate related
• Several regional networks of rehabilitation providers on a variety of issues including training and ongoing operations
• a large physician practice in its sale to a health system

practice Areas: business and corporate law, health law, mergers and acquisitions

articles and presentations: Paul regularly lectures and writes on topics related to business law and health and is the author of foundation of the legal impact, a regular column in the American Physical Therapy Association impact Magazine Private Practice Section

associations and activities. Paul is a member of the Chair of Pennsylvania American physical therapy associations and past physical Committee of the American Association of therapy on risk management and member benefits. He is also member of the Medical Ethics Committee Bloomsburg supply, the School of Physiotherapy Advisory Board Duquesne University, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the American Lawyers Health Association. He is an assistant instructor at the School of Physical and a registered physiotherapist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University of St. Francis

Jurisdictions: .. Paul is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania

Education and background: Paul received his bachelor of science and a Masters in physical therapy with honors from Duquesne University and his law degree with honors from the University of Pittsburgh. He was Associate Editor of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law Journal of Law and Commerce and received the CALI Excellence Award for the future and Esther F. Teplitz Awards for academic achievement in the law program health. Paul graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Health Law Certificate Program Law.

Latest posts by Paul J. Welk ( see all)

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• physical supplier, voice and occupational therapy services Agrees to $ 38 million False Claims Act Settlement - November 12, 2014
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