The Justice Department is suing the hospice company founded by Florida’s Senate president, accusing it of submitting tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicare claims for more than a decade, including while Don Gaetz was vice chairman of the board.
Vitas Hospice and Vitas Healthcare submitted claims for emergency services for patients that weren’t needed, weren’t provided, or were provided to patients who weren’t eligible under Medicare requirements, according to the DOJ. The companies set goals for the number of crisis-care days to be billed and pressured their employees to submit more claims so it would get more revenue, the lawsuit said. The agency said Medicare payments for crisis care can be hundreds of dollars greater than typical hospice care payments.
