The United States has filed a complaint against Bay Area Sleep Associates and its owner, alleging the Tampa Bay, Fla.-based companies submitted false claims for payments from multiple federal healthcare programs, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The government alleges that Edward Killmer, Jr. and Bay Area Sleep Associates, dba SomnoMedics, hired unlicensed sleep technicians to perform tests and requested payment for these services. Medicare requires diagnostic testing be performed by licensed or certified technicians.
"Providers who participate in federal health care programs must play by the rules, not cut corners," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Division. "Billing the government for diagnostic tests performed by unlicensed technicians, as we allege here, is unfair to patients and a misuse of taxpayer dollars."
Read the release on Bay Area Sleep Associates, SomnoMedics and the false claims lawsuit.
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The government alleges that Edward Killmer, Jr. and Bay Area Sleep Associates, dba SomnoMedics, hired unlicensed sleep technicians to perform tests and requested payment for these services. Medicare requires diagnostic testing be performed by licensed or certified technicians.
"Providers who participate in federal health care programs must play by the rules, not cut corners," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Division. "Billing the government for diagnostic tests performed by unlicensed technicians, as we allege here, is unfair to patients and a misuse of taxpayer dollars."
Read the release on Bay Area Sleep Associates, SomnoMedics and the false claims lawsuit.
Related Articles on Healthcare Fraud:
Florida Radiology Clinic to Pay $3M to Settle Alleged Anti-Kickback, Stark Law Violations
Two Officers From Florida's Dynamic Therapy Plead Guilty to Healthcare Fraud
Michigan Accuses McKesson of Inflating Drug Prices, Overbilling Medicaid