Home health care company pays $9M for allegedly submitting false claims

A home healthcare company providing services in several states, including Ohio, to U.S. Department of Energy employees and contractors, among others, who were injured or became ill on the job has paid $9 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act.
 
United Energy Workers Healthcare, Corp. and related entities paid $9 million to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims for payment to the U.S. Department of Labor for healthcare services to beneficiaries of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).
 
This settlement resolves allegations that, between January 2013 and March 2021, defendants submitted claims for payment for in-home healthcare services that were never provided or were medically unnecessary, in violation of the False Claims Act.

Such alleged violations included billing for case management services not actually provided, instructing caregivers to charge for more time than actually spent with patients, providing and billing for services to beneficiaries that were not covered by the EEOICPA program, and providing services without possessing required licensures.
 
“The EEOICPA program provides important benefits, and companies that provide in-home healthcare to EEOICPA beneficiaries must ensure that they do so in accordance with the program’s regulations and seek payment appropriately,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “This settlement shows that the United States will ensure that taxpayers do not overpay companies that bill the United States for improper or excessive claims.”
 
“The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is dedicated to investigating allegations involving OWCP and ensuring tax dollars are protected from fraud, waste, and abuse,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, DOL-OIG. “We applaud the relators for coming forward regarding these issues.”
 
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by multiple individuals, on behalf of the United States, under the qui tam (commonly known as “whistleblower”) provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery if the government takes over the case and obtains judgment against or reaches a monetary agreement with the defendant.
 
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
 
For the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the matter was investigated by Deputy Civil Chief Brandi Stewart and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Horwitz and Bill King.
 
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.