Western Pa. nursing home chain reaches $15.4M settlement for inappropriate therapy
The civil settlement, announced by Brady's office Wednesday, is between the government and
Guardian's chief compliance officer
The settlement resolves a 2015 whistleblower complaint filed in
About
"Billing federal health care programs for medically unnecessary rehabilitation services not only depletes these programs' funds but also exploits our most vulnerable citizens," Brady said in a statement. "Our office will continue to aggressively pursue providers who take advantage of our seniors by putting financial gain ahead of patient care."
Guardian Elder Care pressured its therapists to provide services to meet financial targets and maximize revenue without regard to the clinical need for the care, according to a news release.
Guardian submitted claims to Medicare and other federal health care programs for the care and was reimbursed for it.
Some of the patients involved were receiving hospice care before death and didn't need therapy, but the company is alleged to have pressured therapists to treat them to meet financial goals, according to the release.
Guardian is also entering into a corporate integrity agreement with the
Stopping elder fraud is a top priority of the
"Most facilities are doing the right thing, they're putting patient care first," he said.
His office and other federal officials depend on whistleblowers like Krauss and White to tackle the problems with health care fraud and elder care, which is taken "very seriously," Brady said.
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