• About John Howley
  • CLE Programs
  • Contact Us
JOHN HOWLEY, ESQ.
  • About John Howley
  • CLE Programs
  • Contact Us

Nursing Home Operator Pays $3.2 Million to Settle Ambulance Fraud Kickback Claims

12/1/2015

 
​Regent Management Services will pay $3.2 million to settle allegations that it received kickbacks from ambulance companies in the form of low-cost ambulance transports in exchange for referrals of Regent’s Medicare and Medicaid patients to the ambulance companies.

This is believed to be the first time a nursing home operator, as opposed to an ambulance company, has been held accountable for a “swapping” arrangement.  Under such an arrangement, the ambulance company agrees to provide a nursing home or hospital with low-cost ambulance transports when the nursing home or hospital is required to pay for the transports.  In return, the nursing home or hospital agrees to refer other patients to the ambulance company when Medicare or Medicaid will pay for the transports.

Such “swapping” agreements violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.   That law prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving anything of value in exchange for referrals of items or services covered by Medicare or Medicaid. 

The federal government has made clear that swapping arrangements are an area of concern throughout the ambulance industry, and that it intends to investigate and prosecute these cases aggressively.

If you have evidence that an ambulance company is providing low-cost services to a hospital or nursing home in exchange for referrals of Medicare or Medicaid patients back to the ambulance company, then you should consult with an experienced whistleblower lawyer immediately.  You may be eligible for a substantial financial reward and legal protections as a whistleblower.

To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call John Howley, Esq. at (212) 601-2728.

Comments are closed.
    Picture
    John Howley, Esq.
    (212) 601-2728

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

John Howley is available to consult with you over the phone, by videoconference, or in person.  Call our office today at (212) 601-2728 to schedule a consultation.
Click to Call

FOLLOW US

Follow us on social media for legal news and updates.



​John Howley, Esq. | 1345 6th Ave 2nd floor | New York, NY 10105 | (212) 601-2728
​
​Copyright (c) 2012-2021 by John Howley, Esq.  This web site contains attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
  • About John Howley
  • CLE Programs
  • Contact Us