OIG Exclusion Screening

05-18-2020

After it self-disclosed conduct to OIG, NOVA Southeastern University Health Care Centers (NOVA), Florida, agreed to pay $10,000 for allegedly violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law. OIG alleged that NOVA employed an individual that it knew or should have known was excluded from participation in Federal health care programs.

05-12-2020

After it self-disclosed conduct to OIG, Infusion4Health, Inc. (Infusion), California, agreed to pay $245,366.03 for allegedly violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law. OIG alleged that: (1) Infusion submitted claims for evaluation and management services and non-chemotherapy therapeutic and diagnostic injection, intravenous fluid infusion for hydration, and infusion services provided by its employed nurse practitioners as if a physician had provided them, when the physician did not provide the appropriate level of supervision of the nurse practitioners when they provided the services; and (2) Infusion employed an individual that it knew or should have known was excluded from participation in Federal health care programs.

05-06-2020

After it self-disclosed conduct to OIG, Centerstone of Kentucky, Inc. (Centerstone), Kentucky, agreed to pay $10,551.53 for allegedly violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law. OIG alleged that Centerstone employed an individual that it knew or should have known was excluded from participation in Federal health care programs.

04-30-2020

After it self-disclosed conduct to OIG, Morehouse Community Medical Centers, Inc. (MCMC), Louisiana, agreed to pay $102,245.46 for allegedly violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law. OIG alleged that MCMC employed an individual that it knew or should have known was excluded from participation in Federal health care programs.

04-22-2020

On April 22, 2020, in connection with the resolution of his False Claims Act liability, Maaz Abbasi, M.D., Houston, Texas, agreed to be excluded under 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7(b)(7) for three years. The investigation revealed that in exchange for illegal remuneration: (1) Dr. Abbasi signed Medicare Home Health Certifications and Plans of Care certifying patient eligibility for home health services without any knowledge of the patients’ medical condition or homebound status; and (2) Dr. Abbasi signed another physician’s signature on Medicare Home Health Certifications and Plans of Care certifying patient eligibility for home health services without the physician’s authorization, permission, or knowledge, and without any knowledge of the patients’ medical condition or homebound status. Senior Counsel Ellen Slavin represented OIG.

03-12-2020

On March 12, 2020, OIG excluded Whispering Knoll, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for defaulting on payment obligations under a settlement agreement with OIG wherein OIG alleged that Whispering Knoll employed an individual who was excluded from participating in any Federal health care program. Whispering Knoll’s exclusion will remain in effect until it cures the default of its payment obligations and OIG reinstates Whispering Knoll’s participation in Federal health care programs. Senior Counsel Nancy Brown represented OIG with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Jennifer Hilton.