April 14, 2020
A chain of nine skilled nursing facilities operating in seven states has agreed to pay $10 million to settle a whistleblower-brought suit alleging violations of the False Claims Act. In the suit, former employees Hope Wright, Laura Webb, and Deborah Edmonds alleged that from 2013 to 2017, Saber Healthcare Group LLC improperly pressured therapists to provide Ultra High levels of rehabilitation therapy for all patients regardless of individual patient needs. Ultra High levels of therapy involve a minimum of 720 minutes of therapy from two therapy disciplines, and are reimbursed at the highest rate possible by Medicare. To enforce their illegal standard, Saber prevented therapists from providing lower levels of therapy, caused therapists to falsely report time, and pressured facility directors in daily or weekly calls. As part of the settlement, Saber has agreed to a five year Corporate Integrity Agreement, and Wright, Webb, and Edmonds will receive $1.75 million of the settlement proceeds. DOJ
Tagged in: FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Lack of Medical Necessity, Medicare, SNF, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,