LiveCare Inc., a company based in Venice, Florida, has agreed to pay up to $4.9 million to settle allegations of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act. The accusations involve the unlawful payment for referrals of Medicare beneficiaries.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. He stated, "Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute undermine the integrity of our healthcare system." Handberg emphasized that his office will hold providers accountable to preserve program funds and ensure appropriate patient services.
LiveCare provides remote patient monitoring services for patients with Type 2 diabetes. The settlement addresses claims brought under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, allowing private individuals to file actions on behalf of the United States and potentially receive a portion of any recovery.
Ricardo M. Carcas, Acting Special Agent in Charge at HHS-OIG, commented on the issue: "Kickback schemes waste valuable Medicare funds and undermine the integrity of medical decision-making." He assured continued investigations into health care fraud, particularly concerning remote patient monitoring.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and managed by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Keefe.
It is important to note that these are allegations only, with no determination of liability made as part of this settlement.