05/29/2013 // Whistleblower Law Firm // Keller Grover LLP // (press release)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid compliance, has begun a probe into the actions of a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital accused of improperly discharging patients. The probe comes after an investigation by The Sacramento Bee into a complaint about the Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital sending discharged patient James F. Brown on a 15-hour bus trip to Sacramento all alone. Brown reportedly suffered from depression and schizophrenia and knew no one in the California city and there was virtually no treatment plan in place.
The probe by the federal agency may uncover violations under the False Claims Act by the hospital, which receives tens of millions of dollars in federal funding. The newspaper’s investigation showed that an estimated 1,500 patients were transported to various states by bus, a third of them to California since 2008, by the facility, which is part of the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services. Criminal investigations have also been launched in relation to the purported “patient dumping” practices of the hospital.
The hospital has been allowed to continue billing Medicare as the investigation continues, but could be cut off from funding if found to fall short of the required conditions for participating in the program. In addition, the actions of the hospital may warrant a probe to determine whether False Claims Act violations were committed if monies were taken from the Medicare and Medicaid programs without conditions being met.
While this case did not start as a False Claims Act case using its powerful whistleblower provision, it could have. Hospital workers or anyone else who has knowledge about patient dumping at a hospital receiving funding from Medicare or Medicaid programs may have information about a False Claims Act violation and could potentially act as a whistleblower, help right a wrong, and also be compensated in accordance with provisions of the False Claims Act for coming forward.
The whistleblower lawyers of Keller Grover LLP are available for those with questions about their legal options in cases involving patient dumping. Individuals may contact the law firm today to request a free, confidential consultation or case evaluation.
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