Two Pennsylvania nursing home operators were recently sentenced in federal court to pay more than $15 million in restitution in a healthcare fraud case. Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services, the operator of Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, and the affiliated operator of Mount Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center were convicted of making false statements in connection with the payment of healthcare benefits and for obstructing and impeding the investigation.
Prosecutors accused the two companies of falsely certifying names of individuals who were not currently working in the building and not providing direct patient care. Supervisors manipulated staffing sheets to show that a minimum staffing ratio was met. This allowed the companies to avoid penalties and receive federal funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The facilities also continuously pushed for new patient admissions even though they were understaffed and nurses claimed they could not care for the additional residents properly.
