Masonicare settles False Claims Act allegations in Connecticut

The Masonicare Connecticut Visiting Nurse Association Inc. (VNA) has consented to pay a considerable sum to settle False Claims Act allegations concerning a former VNA physical therapist. VNA is a home health and hospice care provider with over 1,000 employees, serving over 150,000 people nationwide, including Connecticut. From November 2004 through March 2006, Ronald Procko, a former Masonicare physical therapist, is alleged to have provided medical services that were either unnecessary or lacked proper documentation. Medicare and Medicaid were then billed for such unwarranted medical services. As part of its settlement, VNA agreed to repay Medicare and Medicaid double damages for such claims. VNA admitted no wrongdoing and insisted that it terminated the therapist when it learned of his unauthorized activity.

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