A home health agency (HHA) operator has agreed to pay $17 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks through the purchase of two HHAs from a retirement home operator in Arizona. The settlement resolves allegations that BAYADA, BAYADA Home Health Care Inc., BAYADA Health LLC, and BAYADA Home Care (collectively, the BAYADA Companies), with headquarters in Moorestown, New Jersey, bought two HHAs to induce referrals to BAYADA of Medicare beneficiaries from other retirement communities operated by the seller throughout the United States. The government alleges that from Jan. 1, 2014, through Oct. 31, 2020, the BAYADA Companies submitted false claims for payment to Medicare for services provided to beneficiaries referred to BAYADA as a result of the kickback transaction.
