Florida Medicaid fraud case results in $2.2M recovery from health provider

FLORIDA — The Florida Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has secured more than $2.2 million for the state’s Medicaid program in a settlement with Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc., a Tennessee-based healthcare provider.

According to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Acadia is said to have submitted false or fraudulent claims for inpatient behavioral health care to Medicaid and Medicare, violating both the Federal False Claims Act and the Florida False Claims Act.

“Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, along with its colleagues in several states, has yet again done terrific work, holding accountable a health care company that sought to receive funds from the public fisc that it was not entitled,” said Acting Attorney General John Guard.

“As they do every day, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will investigate, prosecute, and recover public funds from those that engage in waste, fraud, or abuse.”

The settlement resolves allegations that Acadia’s facilities admitted patients who were ineligible for inpatient treatment and failed to discharge those who no longer required care, reportedly leading to unnecessary extended stays.

The company is also said to have provided inadequate staffing and failed to train or supervise personnel properly, allegedly resulting in patient harm.

The case stemmed from two whistleblower lawsuits filed in April 2017 in federal courts in Tennessee and Florida. The states of Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada also participated in the investigation.

Florida will receive $2,289,565.53 in restitution and other recoveries as part of the agreement.