BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — An urgent care provider that operated in Idaho and New Mexico has paid $ 3 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to Federal programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bloom Care LLC and its owners have paid $3 million to resolve allegations that they billed for unnecessary testing and inflated the extent of services performed during the pandemic. The US Department of Justice alleges that Bloom knowingly used the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse for billing for medically unnecessary streptococcus and influenza tests for asymptomatic patients.
The DOJ also contends that Bloom submitted claims for high-level evaluation and management services for COVID-19 patients when Bloom knew that the services should have been billed at a lower level of service.
“The Department of Justice is committed to identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott. “I commend the federal and state agencies that investigated this case, as their important efforts protect taxpayer dollars.”
The claims resolved by this settlement with Bloom Care LLC are allegations; the DOJ clarifies that there has not been an admission of guilt or a determination of liability.
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