HHS Fights Home Health Agency Fraud: LA & Houston Agencies Must Reapply as Providers

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

hhs fights home health agency fraud

demonstration project targets fraudulent business practices in the greater los angeles and houston areas

hhs secretary michael leavitt today announced an initiative designed to protect medicare beneficiaries from fraudulent home health agency (hha) providers. this two-year project will focus on preventing deceptive providers from operating in the greater los angeles and houston areas.

“hhs is working to protect the public from fraud by stopping it before it happens,” secretary leavitt said. “our joint effort with the department of justice shows that we have zero tolerance for those who would prey on the system. this demonstration project works to bar unlawful home health agencies from entering the medicare billing system.”

to view the entire press release on hhs website, please click here: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2007pres/07/pr20070717a.html

note: all hhs press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Per news release:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will now require home health care providers who operate in the greater Los Angeles and Houston areas to immediately resubmit applications to be considered a qualified Medicare HHA. Those who fail to reapply within 60 days of receiving a notice to reapply from CMS will have their Medicare billing privileges revoked. Also, home health care providers that fail to report a change in ownership or change of address; have owners, partners, directors or managing employees who have had a felony conviction within the last 10 years; or, no longer meet each and every provider enrollment requirement; will have their billing privileges revoked. In addition to the reapplication process, the HHA demonstration will require a State survey for any HHA that underwent an ownership change within the last two years.