27 August 2024. Four whistleblowers in two separate qui tam actions brought a home healthcare company and its subsidiaries to justice. Intrepid U.S.A. and its subsidiaries resolved allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by agreeing to pay a $3,850,000 settlement, based on its ability to pay. The whistleblowers, three of whom were former employees and one a former travel nurse for Intrepid, will receive almost 18% of the government’s recovery as a reward for reporting the alleged Medicare fraud scheme.

Home Healthcare Fraud Allegations

The United States alleged that these violations occurred between 2016 and 2021, involving 19 home healthcare facilities and three hospice facilities operated by Intrepid. At the home healthcare facilities, Intrepid allegedly submitted claims to Medicare for patients who were not supposed to receive Medicare home healthcare benefits, and/or for services that were medically unnecessary, provided by unqualified staff, or not provided at all. At the hospice facilities, Intrepid allegedly billed Medicare for patients who were not eligible for hospice care or had become ineligible for hospice care.

Medicare’s Home Healthcare and Hospice Coverage

As the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General said about the case, “Medicare’s hospice and home healthcare benefits provide critical services to vulnerable patient populations across the country.” Additionally, from the Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services...

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