A whistleblower complaint alleged that Millennium Physicians Association PLLC billed Medicare for sleep studies conducted by uncredentialed technicians.
A Houston area physician group will pay $1.2 million to settle whistleblower allegations that it improperly billed Medicare for sleep studies, the Department of Justice said.
A whistleblower complaint alleged that, from January 2015 through March 2019, Millennium Physicians Association PLLC, operating as Millennium Respiratory & Sleep Disorder Specialists, and based in The Woodlands, conducted sleep studies at two clinics without properly credentialed technicians, and improperly billed Medicare for the services.
Medicare requires sleep centers to be accredited or certified by the America Academy of Sleep Medicine, Joint Commission or Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc.
Millennium self-reported that from 2011 through 2019, two of its sleep centers were unaccredited.
"Providers using improperly credentialed technicians are cheating the taxpayers and may put beneficiaries at risk," said Joseph Martin, Acting Special Agent In Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The whistleblower will receive $187,000 from the settlement.
“Providers using improperly credentialed technicians are cheating the taxpayers and may put beneficiaries at risk.”
Joseph Martin, HHS-OIG
John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.
Photo credit: Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock.com
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Medicare requires sleep centers to be accredited by the America Academy of Sleep Medicine, Joint Commission or Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc.
Millennium self-reported that from 2011 through 2019, two of its sleep centers were unaccredited.
The whistleblower will receive $187,000 from the settlement.