It was alleged the home health agency violated the False Claims Act by submitting fraudulent claims to Medicaid for reimbursement

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina—Family First Home Health Care, Inc. (Family First), a home health care agency located in Gastonia, North Carolina, (now d/b/a Gaston Piedmont Health Care Inc.), and its owner Marion James have agreed to collectively pay $600,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly violated the Federal and North Carolina False Claims Acts from Jan. 1, 2015, through Jan. 9, 2020, by submitting thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicaid for reimbursement, announced Dena J.

The pair conspired to commit Medicare fraud by billing for medically unnecessary DME such as knee, ankle, shoulder, wrist and back braces

SAN DIEGO—Anthony Duane Bell Sr. and his son, Anthony Duane Bell Jr., were sentenced in federal court to 65 months and 12 months and one day, respectively, for their roles in fraudulently receiving more than $21 million in Medicare payments and lying to cover it up.  

NCART will change when it distributes its newsletter as well as plans to improve communication

On Friday, March 8 the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) announced it will launch a new newsletter theme along with additional news on how it plans to improve communication. The newsletter will move from the end to the beginning of the month. It will also send out a bi-weekly update, scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 20. 

NCART also said it added a new marketing resource, Barry Steelman. 

Bill would create a new, nationwide grant program to incentivize and support states’ efforts to create strategic plans for aging

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Senate Committee on Aging, and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, introduced the Strategic Plan for Aging Act, a landmark bill that would create a new, nationwide grant program under the Older Americans Act (OAA) to incentivize and support states’ efforts to create their own strategic plans for aging.

Kissane aims to guide Brownmed toward innovation & growth as new president

BOSTON—Brownmed, a provider of health care solutions, announced the appointment of Chris Kissane as its new President, effective immediately. With more than 20 years of sales leadership experience, Kissane brings expertise and a demonstrated history of generating revenue for his previous companies.

Findings reveal current audit process’ shortcomings

WASHINTON and ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—Following a series of meetings with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Members of Congress on efforts to improve and protect hospice program integrity, four national hospice organizations—LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)

Tampa-Area health care company announces the sale of three properties in accordance with its strategic plan to reinvest into programs, patients & colleagues. 

TAMPA, Florida—Empath Health, a health care organization dedicated to providing care to individuals facing serious illness and grief, announced a decision to sell multiple properties as part of a broader initiative to reinvest in the community, enhance programming and support colleagues.