Chronic Care Provider Settles $14.9M False Claims Allegations

Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A., and Bluestone National LLC have agreed to pay $14.9 million to settle allegations of submitting false claims for certain patient care services in assisted living facilities. The claims, related to chronic care management, allege the defendants did not comply with Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE requirements between Jan. 2015 and Dec. 2019.

The settlement includes a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with HHS-OIG, requiring Bluestone to establish a compliance program and undergo independent reviews of Medicare claims.

The settlement also resolves whistleblower claims brought by the general manager for Bluestone’s Florida market, with a portion of the recovery going to her. She will receive a $2.8 million whistleblower reward.

“The submission of false claims to Medicare for chronic care services will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This resolution sends a message to the provider community and to our district that we will actively investigate and prosecute this kind of conduct whenever it appears.”