In October 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) canceled the Arriva’s billing number for Medicare. The action comes after the company billed Medicare for medical equipment shipped to a beneficiary, who was already dead for over two weeks. Arriva ceased its operations in December 2017.
DOJ is committed to protecting Medicare funds
In a statement, Jody Hunt, Assistant Attorney General for DOJ’s Civil Division, said, “We will seek to hold accountable health care providers that attempt to profit by providing illegal inducements and by billing for unnecessary items. We will continue to take appropriate legal measures to protect Medicare funds and to ensure a fiscally sound program that can serve all of our senior citizens.”
On the other hand, U.S. Attorney Donald Cochran commented that federal statutes have restrictions to prevent improper practices. He vowed, “We will continue to enforce the laws that protect the integrity of federal health care programs.”
Meanwhile, Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said Medicare has a regulation prohibiting payment for medically unnecessary services and supplies.