Feds try to prevent fraud by blocking new home-health agencies in areas of FL, IL, MI and TX
Federal regulators moved today to block new home-health agencies from starting up in the Dallas and Houston areas. The reason, in a word: fraud.
Specifically, the regulators said they wouldnt let any new agencies bill Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors. The moratorium starts tomorrow and is expected to last at least six months.
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Todays announcement by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the agency was moving beyond pay and chase to prevent fraud in areas of known risk. It said the Dallas and Houston areas have a disproportionate number of home-health providers and extremely high utilization.
Similar moratoria apply in the Detroit, Chicago and South Florida areas.
More at http://watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/feds-try-to-prevent-fraud-by-blocking-new-home-health-agencies-in-dallas-houston-areas.html/ .