Florida Medicare Advantage payer settles False Claims Act allegations for $31.6M — 4 things to know

Tampa, Fla.-based Freedom Health agreed to pay $31.6 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act, Insurance News Net reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. The U.S. Justice Department alleged the Medicare Advantage organization was illegally submitted unsupported diagnosis codes to CMS through two of its plans to inflate its reimbursement rate from 2008 to 2013.

2. The Justice Department said Freedom Health also misrepresented material to CMS regarding the scope and content of its provider network in applications to expand into new counties.

3. CMS indicted former Freedom Health COO Siddhartha Pagidipati as well. Mr. Pagidipati paid $750,000 to resolve his alleged role in the schemes.

4. The government brought the suit against Freedom Health after a whistleblower exposed the practices to the federal government.

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