The Department of Justice announced settlements in the following False Claims Act lawsuits:
United States Settles False Claims Act Suit against Guardian Hospice and Related Entities
Guardian Hospice of Georgia LLC, Guardian Home Care Holdings Inc. and AccentCare Inc. (collectively Guardian) agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations that Guardian knowingly submitted false claims to the Medicare program for hospice patients who were not terminally ill. Guardian is a for-profit hospice which provides hospice services in Atlanta.
Nation’s Second-Largest Nursing Home Pharmacy to Pay $9.25 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations
The nation’s second-largest nursing home pharmacy, PharMerica Corp., has agreed to pay $9.25 million to resolve allegations that it solicited and received kickbacks from pharmaceutical manufacturer Abbott Laboratories in exchange for promoting the prescription drug Depakote for nursing home patients. PharMerica is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ohio Hospital to Pay $4.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
Cincinnati-based West Chester Hospital and its parent company, UC Health, have agreed to pay $4.1 million to settle allegations that West Chester Hospital violated the False Claims Act by billing federal health care programs for costs associated with medically unnecessary spine surgeries.
Boeing Pays $18 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
The Boeing Company has paid the United States $18 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims for labor charges on maintenance contracts with the U.S. Air Force for the C-17 Globemaster aircraft. Boeing, an aerospace and defense industry giant, is headquartered in Chicago.
The Department of Justice announced that it has resolved a $237 million judgment against Tuomey Healthcare System for illegally billing the Medicare program for services referred by physicians with whom the hospital had improper financial relationships. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the United States will receive $72.4 million and Tuomey, based in Sumter, South Carolina, will be sold to Palmetto Health, a multi-hospital healthcare system based in Columbia, South Carolina.