Medicare audits Florida | The Health Law Firm Blog

Zone 4 Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) for Medicare and Medicaid Programs is Health Integrity, LCC

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Health Integrity, LCC, was named the Zone 4 Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) for the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As the ZPIC for Zone 4, Health Integrity has been performing benefit integrity activities aimed to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid data matching programs.

A ZPIC is a business entity that contracts with Medicare and Medicaid and works with state Medicaid agencies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and law enforcement officials to identify improper billing and utilization patterns throughout Zone 4.

ZPIC Zone 4 includes Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

What is a ZPIC?

ZPICs are private companies contracted by the CMS, used to conduct audits for Medicare and Medicaid overpayments. ZPICS also detect, investigate and gather evidence of suspected fraud and […]

ZPICs Seek “Voluntary” Agreements from Physicians for Auto-Denial Edits for Home Health Services

By Michael L. Smith, R.R.T., J.D., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law, and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the primary purpose of Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs) is to investigate instances of suspected fraud, waste, and abuse. The specific actions employed by ZPICs to fulfil this mission include:

– Investigating potential fraud and abuse for CMS administrative action or referral to law enforcement;
– Conducting investigations in accordance with the priorities established by Center for Program Integrity’s (CPI) Fraud Prevention System;
– Performing medical review, as appropriate;
– Performing data analysis in coordination with CPI’s Fraud Prevention System;
– Identifying the need for administrative actions such as payment suspensions and prepayment or auto-denial edits; and,
– Referring cases to law […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:53-04:00June 1, 2018|Categories: Medicare, The Health Law Firm Blog, ZPIC|Tags: auto-denial edit, Center for Program Integrity (CPI), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, CMS administrative action, CMS demand letter, CMS intent to refer letter, CPI fraud prevention system, defense attorney, defense lawyer, doctor, fraud defense, fraud prevention, fraud prevention system, health law firm, home health services, legal representation, mac, medical review, medicare, Medicare Administrative Contractor, medicare audit, Medicare audits Florida, Medicare fraud, National Provider Identifier, NPI, overpayment, payment suspensions, physician, recoupment action, the health law firm, Zone Program Integrity Contractor, zpic, ZPIC attorney, zpic audit, ZPIC lawyer|Comments Off

E&M Services Now Under Review by the Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs)

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In September 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made the decision to allow Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) to begin reviewing the billing codes for office visits for healthcare providers. Those at issue are the codes referred to as evaluation and management (E&M) codes. These claims had previously been off-limits to RACS.

Connolly, Inc., the contractor for RAC audit services for 15 states and two U.S. territories, will sort through claims filed by doctors and hospitals from as far back as October 1, 2007. According to an article in American Medical News, the plan is to conduct limited reviews in those states and territories using statistical sampling to project how many physician claims that used the high-level, established […]

Phony Medical Equipment Supplier will Spend 30 months in Prison for Medicare Fraud

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

A Los Angeles medical equipment supplier will spend 30 months in prison for submitting nearly $1 million in false claims to Medicare. The claims were almost all for expensive, high-end power wheelchairs. The man was sentenced on October 5, 2012.

To see the press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), click here.

Man Owned and Operated a Phony Durable Medical Equipment Supply Company.

In February 2012, the defendant in this case pleaded guilty to owning and operating a fake durable medical equipment (DME) supply company, which he used to submit false claims to Medicare. He would allegedly pay kickbacks to co-conspirators for prescriptions and other documents needed to pull off the fraud. About ninety-five percent […]

American Hospital Association (AHA) Sues U.S. Government for Denied Medicare Payments by RACs, ZPICs and Other Auditors

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 1, 2012, the American Hospital Association (AHA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) claiming that private auditors hired to crack down on improper Medicare payments are denying hospitals millions of dollars in medically necessary care, this is according to a number of sources. The AHA is seeking a court order declaring the practice invalid, saying it violates the Medicare Act.

Four hospital systems in Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania have joined the AHA as plaintiffs in the suit. The suit has been filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.

To read the AHA complaint against the HHS, click here.

AHA Wants Doctors to Be Able to Focus on Patient […]