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American Access Care Holdings agrees to $3.6 million settlement for false claims allegations
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American Access Care Holdings, LLC has agreed to pay $3,594,791 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced. The government alleged that, between January 2007 and September 2011, AAC improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid for multiple percutaneous transluminal angioplasties performed during the same patient encounter and that, between October 2005 and September 2011, AAC improperly submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for procedures performed during follow-up visits that were not medically necessary.
The conduct addressed by the settlement occurred prior to the merger with Fresenius Vascular Care, Inc. in October 2011.
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Philip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General announced the settlement Sept. 28.
“Health care providers will not be permitted to provide unnecessary medical procedures – in this case, invasive procedures – on patients and then pocket the improper payments they receive as a result,” said Coyne. “Our agency is dedicated to investigating health care fraud schemes that divert scarce taxpayer funds meant to provide for legitimate patient care.”
The Connecticut settlement is related to a parallel resolution of claims against AAC by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, and follows a third settlement against the company in the Southern District of Florida, in the case United States ex rel. Souza v. American Access Care of Miami, LLC.
In entering into the civil settlement agreement, AAC did not admit liability and disputes the government’s allegations.