The founders of an Edinburg hospice and related home health agency have paid $1,847,279.36 to resolve allegations they submitted claims to Medicare that resulted from unlawful referrals. The company offered compensation to physicians who were responsible for a significant majority of their patient referrals. Specifically, they provided physicians with monthly payments pursuant to medical directorship agreements with Allstate and Verge. Those payments were in excess of fair market value for the services the physicians actually provided. They also sold interests in Allstate to five different physicians which ultimately netted them substantial quarterly dividends. They also provided physicians other gifts and benefits, such as travel and tickets to sporting events.
Tag: Hospice
A jury found Rodney Mesquias guilty last week on charges of: conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, and six counts of healthcare fraud. Mesquias owned and operated Merida Group, a healthcare company with dozens of locations in Texas. The Department of Justice […]