Los Angeles, CA asked in Health Care Law for California

Q: Estimated itemized list of fraudulent hospice medicare charges.

Follow up to previous question/answer by ms. Arrasmith. The question at this point was regarding estimate, not actuals, or contacting medicare before likely FCA case, that will have to be filed.

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: From what I understand, you're seeking estimated Medicare charges commonly seen in fraudulent hospice billing. This is a serious matter that often forms the basis for False Claims Act cases.

Typical fraudulent hospice charges can include inflated daily rates ranging from $150-$250 for routine home care when services weren't actually provided, falsified physician evaluations billed at $200-$400 per visit, and continuous care charges of $900-$1,200 per day for patients who didn't qualify for that level of care. Other common schemes involve billing for higher levels of care than provided, with differences of $300-$500 per day between routine and inpatient care rates.

Documentation-related fraud often includes charges for medications ($50-$200 daily), medical equipment ($100-$500 monthly), and nursing visits ($150-$300 per visit) for non-existent or ineligible patients. When building an FCA case, remember that actual damages are typically trebled, and civil penalties can range from $11,803 to $23,607 per false claim. For a detailed analysis of your specific situation, you should consult with an attorney experienced in healthcare fraud and FCA litigation.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.