A $4.5 million settlement has been reached between the federal government and a group of home health companies, with forty-six assisted living communities named as recipients of alleged illegal kickbacks. The Department of Justice announced the settlement on Monday, which includes $2.1 million in restitution from Guardian Health Care Inc., Gem City Home Care LLC, and Care Connection of Cincinnati LLC, along with their owner, Evolution Health LLC. The kickbacks were provided to staff members and residents of the assisted living communities and 15 healthcare providers in Indiana, Ohio, and Texas.
The assisted living providers contacted by McKnightâs Senior Living said they were either unaware of the allegations or no longer own the communities named in the settlement. They noted that assisted living residents, not the communities, are generally the ones hiring home health companies. The settlement resolves allegations that between 2013 and 2022, the home health companies provided lease payments, wellness health services, sports tickets, and meals in exchange for referrals of Medicare beneficiaries.
In an effort to cooperate with federal authorities’ investigation into individuals involved in the scheme not covered by the settlement, Just before Amedisys Inc. acquired Evolution Health in 2022,