The Florida Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has recovered more than $2.2 million for the Florida Medicaid program from Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc., a Tennessee-based healthcare provider.
Acadia was accused of violating the Federal False Claims Act and the Florida False Claims Act by submitting false or fraudulent claims for inpatient behavioral health care to both Medicaid and Medicare.
Acting Attorney General John Guard praised the work of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and its multi-state partners.
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“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,” Guard stated. “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 agreement resolves allegations that Acadia’s facilities admitted patients who did not meet the criteria for inpatient treatment. It also addresses claims that Acadia failed to discharge patients when they no longer required inpatient care, resulting in unnecessarily extended stays. Furthermore, the settlement resolves allegations of inadequate staffing and insufficient training or supervision of staff, which allegedly led to patient harm.
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The investigation and subsequent settlement originated from two qui tam (whistleblower) actions filed in April 2017 in the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the Middle District of Florida under the federal False Claims Act and various state false claims statutes. The states of Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada also participated in the investigation of Acadia.
As part of the comprehensive settlement, the State of Florida will receive $2,289,565.53 in restitution and other recoveries.
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