MACON, Ga. — A federal judge says a Macon rehab facility must pay back the federal government $9.6 million for alleged fraudulent billing.
It’s the result of a damages hearing in May connected to an April ruling where Judge Tripp Self said Middle Georgia Family Rehab must pay damages.
A former employee filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the business four years ago. He claimed the clinic submitted false bills for work that was never done, and Self agreed the company defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and others.
Court records say the clinic submitted 41 claims for a speech therapist after they didn't work there anymore.
In another record, the company billed the government for work allegedly done by an employee who had been arrested and was serving time in the Bibb County jail.
In last week’s hearing, Judge Self set the total of damages and penalties at nearly $10 million. Lawyers in the case still need to discuss how and when that money gets paid back.
13WMAZ reached out to Middle Georgia Family Rehab, they did not return our calls.
“Middle Georgia Family Rehab reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars from taxpayers by improperly filing claims with agencies designated to provide physical therapy and speech therapy services to children and military families. A strong team effort from our Civil Division and its investigative partners resulted in a significant judgment against Middle Georgia Family Rehab which reinforces that our community’s most deserving patients are entitled to quality health care services," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary.
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