NORTH FLORIDA — A federal lawsuit accuses a Panhandle-based physical therapy provider of billing the U.S. government for hundreds of treatments allegedly performed by a therapist who was vacationing in the Caribbean at the time.
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The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, names Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, LLC; Chipley Physical Therapy, LLC; and owners Ruben and Lorrie Laurel. According to prosecutors, Ms Laurel is said to have submitted over 600 false claims while traveling outside the U.S. between 2019 and 2024, including on cruises to Jamaica, Mexico, Aruba, and the Bahamas.
Chipley Physical Therapy operates clinics in Chipley, Bonifay, and Marianna. Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, also named in the complaint, serves as the billing company. Both businesses are owned by the Laurels, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Federal officials allege Ms Laurel submitted claims for therapy sessions during times she was physically unable to treat patients because she was on international cruises. The lawsuit states the services were billed to Medicare and other government programs.
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“This lawsuit demonstrates our firm commitment to hold healthcare providers accountable for fraudulent billing,” said U.S. Attorney John Heekin.
“Healthcare providers who are fraudulently charging the federal government for medical services not rendered will be vigorously pursued by our office.”
The complaint was filed under the False Claims Act and stems from a whistleblower case titled United States ex rel. Ariel Bowen v. Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, LLC, et al., Case No. 5:21-cv-236-TKW-MJF.
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Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle are leading the case for the Northern District of Florida. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is said to have assisted with the investigation.
Prosecutors noted that the allegations have not yet been proven, and no finding of liability has been made.
