San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/13/2017 -- The Whistleblower Institute announces that Genesis Healthcare Inc reached a $53.6 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former employee over billing for medically unnecessary therapy and hospice services, and nursing care.

Those who have a similar case or experienced a similar situation or any other wrongdoing within a corporation have certain options and should contact the Whistleblower Institute at mail@whistleblowerinstitute.com or call: 619-452–1218. There are no costs or obligations to you.

A settlement has been reached to resolve False Claims Act allegations against companies and facilities acquired Genesis Healthcare Inc.

The allegations arose from a lawsuit that claimed Genesis Healthcare Inc had billed for medically unnecessary therapy and hospice services, and "grossly substandard" nursing care.

According to the Justice Department, Genesis Healthcare Inc will pay the federal government $53,639,288.04, including interest, to settle six federal lawsuits and investigations.

"We are committed to protecting the federal health care programs and the patients who are enrolled in them," said U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch. "We will continue to vigorously pursue companies and individuals who provide care that is grossly deficient or unnecessary."

Reportedly, this settlement resolves four sets of allegations. First, the settlement resolves allegations involving Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc. (SKG) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Skilled Companies). Allegedly, from 2010 through March of 2013, Genesis subsidiary Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. (SKG) and its subsidiaries submitted false claims by (1) billing for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill and (2) billing inappropriately for certain physician evaluation management services at the SKG Creekside Hospice facility in Las Vegas. In addition, Genesis settled claims that from 2005 through 2013, SKG and its subsidiaries submitted false claims at certain facilities by providing therapy to certain patients longer than medically necessary, and/or billing for more therapy minutes than the patients actually received. This set of claims also included allegations that the SKG subsidiaries assigned patients a higher Resource Utilization Group (RUG) level than necessary. Genesis did not acquire SKG and its related entities until after all of the conduct at issue had occurred.

This settlement also allegedly resolves claims regarding Genesis subsidiaries Sun Healthcare Group Inc., SunDance Rehabilitation Agency Inc., and SunDance Rehabilitation Corp. Specifically, the settlement resolves allegations that from 2008 through September of 2013, those entities billed for outpatient therapy services provided in the State of Georgia that were (1) not medically necessary or (2) unskilled in nature.

Lastly, this settlement allegedly resolves allegations that between 2003 and 2010, Genesis subsidiary, Skilled LLC, submitted claims at certain of its nursing homes for services that were grossly substandard and/or worthless and therefore ineligible for payment. At the heart of the claims of worthless services were allegations that the nursing homes at issue did not provide sufficient nurse staffing to meet residents' needs.

The whistleblowers, who were former employees of the companies acquired by Genesis, will receive a combined $9.67 million as their share of the recovery.

Based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Genesis owns and operates through its subsidiaries skilled nursing facilities, assisted/senior living facilities, and a rehabilitation therapy business.

The Whistleblower Institute is an information portal for current or former employees and other people having insight information about wrongdoing and other illegal activities by individuals either individually or within corporations, through company culture and or within international affairs. Whistleblowers should keep in mind that under the Dodd-Frank Act any person who provides the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") with original information that leads to a successful enforcement action with over $1 million recovered must be awarded between 10%-30% of the total amount recovered. In order to determine the total amount of the reward there are numerous factors that need to be considered. Whistleblower actions are complex and our goal is to guide any whistleblower every step of the way. The Whistleblower Institute is dedicated to partnering with any individual who have information about fraud and we work with many of the best law firms worldwide.

Those who have a similar case or experienced a similar situation or any other wrongdoing within a corporation have certain options and should contact the Whistleblower Institute.

Contact:
Whistleblower Institute
2534 State Street - Suite 406
San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Phone: +1 (619) 452–1218
Facsimile: +1 (619) 785 – 3185
Email: mail@whistleblowerinstitute.com

The material was prepared by the Whistleblower Institute for informational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. The information is provided only as general information which may or may not reflect the most currently available public information, is not provided as a basis for any established or existing relationship, and is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice, or to substitute for obtaining such advice from an attorney or other advisor licensed in your state.