Attorney General Mike DeWine announces $26 million Medicaid fraud settlement with Dayton firm
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Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced a $26 million settlement with CareSource, a Dayton-based managed health care company, and its related corporate entities. The settlement resolves allegations that CareSource submitted false data and received reimbursements from Medicaid for health care services it did not provide.
“Medicaid program dollars need to be used to do what they are intended to do — and that is to provide health care to some of our most vulnerable citizens. Ohio taxpayers should expect no less,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “The defendants in this case defrauded the state’s Medicaid program by failing to provide critical health care services, which is both unconscionable and unacceptable.”
CareSource provides managed care benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries in several states. It is alleged that between 2001 and 2006, CareSource knowingly failed to provide required screening, assessment and case management for children with special health care needs and adults. As a result, CareSource received millions of dollars in Medicaid funds to which it was not entitled. Subsequently, CareSource, CareSource Management Group and CareSource USA Holding submitted false data to create the appearance they were providing these required services to improperly retain incentives received from Ohio Medicaid and to avoid penalties.
CareSource has agreed to pay the state of Ohio and the federal government a total of $26 million to resolve the allegations. Ohio’s share of the settlement is $10 million.
“This settlement will help ensure the provision of crucial services to Medicaid patients, especially children with special health care needs,” said Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “The cooperation between federal and state agencies, along with assistance from the former employees who brought this issue to the government’s attention, demonstrates the determination necessary to protect the public’s precious health care resources.”
This case was initiated by a whistleblower action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio by two former CareSource employees. The False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions allow private individuals with knowledge of fraud to file suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. As part of this settlement, the whistleblowers will receive a share of approximately $3.1 million from the federal portion of the settlement.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Health Care Fraud Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio; the Department of Justice, Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch; and the Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The whistleblower case is captioned United States ex rel. Laura Rupert & Robyn Herzog v. CareSource Management Group, Co., CareSource, & CareSource USA Holding, Co., Civil Action No. C2-06-961 (S.D. Ohio).[[In-content Ad]]
“Medicaid program dollars need to be used to do what they are intended to do — and that is to provide health care to some of our most vulnerable citizens. Ohio taxpayers should expect no less,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “The defendants in this case defrauded the state’s Medicaid program by failing to provide critical health care services, which is both unconscionable and unacceptable.”
CareSource provides managed care benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries in several states. It is alleged that between 2001 and 2006, CareSource knowingly failed to provide required screening, assessment and case management for children with special health care needs and adults. As a result, CareSource received millions of dollars in Medicaid funds to which it was not entitled. Subsequently, CareSource, CareSource Management Group and CareSource USA Holding submitted false data to create the appearance they were providing these required services to improperly retain incentives received from Ohio Medicaid and to avoid penalties.
CareSource has agreed to pay the state of Ohio and the federal government a total of $26 million to resolve the allegations. Ohio’s share of the settlement is $10 million.
“This settlement will help ensure the provision of crucial services to Medicaid patients, especially children with special health care needs,” said Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “The cooperation between federal and state agencies, along with assistance from the former employees who brought this issue to the government’s attention, demonstrates the determination necessary to protect the public’s precious health care resources.”
This case was initiated by a whistleblower action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio by two former CareSource employees. The False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions allow private individuals with knowledge of fraud to file suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. As part of this settlement, the whistleblowers will receive a share of approximately $3.1 million from the federal portion of the settlement.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Health Care Fraud Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio; the Department of Justice, Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch; and the Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The whistleblower case is captioned United States ex rel. Laura Rupert & Robyn Herzog v. CareSource Management Group, Co., CareSource, & CareSource USA Holding, Co., Civil Action No. C2-06-961 (S.D. Ohio).[[In-content Ad]]