Three Colorado Springs, Colo.-based healthcare companies and two individuals face False Claims Act allegations of submitting tens of thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicare and Tricare using a deceased physician’s provider number to obtain higher reimbursement rates, the Justice Department said in an Aug. 10 news release.
Front Range Urgent Care, Comfort Care Family Practice and QwikCareMD, along with practice manager Anita Wiescamp and the estate of physician Steven Wenrich, MD, allegedly submitted inflated claims under Dr. Wenrich’s provider number for services actually performed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants over nearly a decade.
Because Medicare and Tricare pay physicians at higher rates than nurse practitioners or physician assistants for the same services, the scheme caused the federal government to overpay on the claims.
The case was initiated through a whistleblower complaint filed by former QwikCare employees. All claims are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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