What You Should Know:
– CompreCare Health LLC and its affiliates, operating as Meditelecare LLC, have agreed to pay $358,514 to resolve allegations of fraudulent billing practices involving telehealth psychotherapy services. The settlement was announced today by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky.
– The U.S. government alleged that between January 2017 and November 2022, Meditelecare submitted claims to Medicare for telehealth psychotherapy sessions that did not meet the minimum time requirements for reimbursement. The company also allegedly relied on falsified time records to support these claims.
Whistleblower Lawsuit Prompts Investigation
The allegations stemmed from a whistleblower lawsuit filed in federal court in Bowling Green, Kentucky, by Laura Cole and Tiffany Saylor. The lawsuit, United States ex rel. Laura Cole and Tiffany Saylor v. MedOptions of Kentucky, et al., brought to light the fraudulent billing practices.
“I commend the outstanding effort of the attorneys and investigators who worked on this case on behalf of the United States,” said U.S Attorney Bennett. “Those who bill Medicare for timed services must do so accurately as we take these matters very seriously and will vigorously pursue claims that Medicare is being overcharged.”
