Escambia County Pays $3.5 Million To Settle Federal Medicare Fraud Lawsuit

August 2, 2024

Escambia County has paid $3.5 million to resolve federal allegations that the county violated the False Claims Act by falsely billing government healthcare programs for emergency medical services and transportation.

The settlement resolves claims against Escambia County arising from ambulance and emergency medical technicians lacking the requisite certifications who then provided healthcare services via emergency medical services and transportation with Escambia County EMS during the period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020.

“This settlement with Escambia County demonstrates our commitment to protect federal health care funds and to hold providers accountable for fraudulent billing especially when it impacts the safety and well-being of our citizens,” said Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “Our office will continue to uphold the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs and vigorously pursue health care providers that defraud the government.”

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Dr. Rayme Edler. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.

This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Escambia County, nor a concession by the United States that its claims were not well-founded.

Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matte

NorthEscambia.com file photo.

Comments

6 Responses to “Escambia County Pays $3.5 Million To Settle Federal Medicare Fraud Lawsuit”

  1. Bob on August 3rd, 2024 1:07 am

    @Diane Lowery

    Escambia County stole $3.5 million from the federal government. They are being required to pay it back. A cut of that is going to the whistleblower that notified the federal government that they were being robbed.

  2. GNelson on August 3rd, 2024 12:12 am

    Figures – government paying government…so that means zero return to the taxpayers who paid them all that money.

  3. Me on August 2nd, 2024 5:37 pm

    Luckily or unluckily all the administration who perpetrated this fraud are gone by either termination or resignation. Most of whom got off scott free. Now we just have an administration that just treats its employees like trash. There no telling how much money the county had spent hiring training and firing qualified providers.

  4. Diane Lowery on August 2nd, 2024 2:00 pm

    So the federal government collects 3.5 million dollars of county funds to help the citizens? County funds come from citizens, the tax payers. Something is just so wrong about this. Plus, the whistleblower gets a cut. This all sounds fishy to me.

  5. jb on August 2nd, 2024 11:41 am

    When I fell earlier this year-it was early and still dark – so you can see where you are and I asked – this is not the way to W Fl hospital the answer was we are taking yo to the new one on 9 mile – just the same–I said no it isn’t it isn’t a hospital-they took me anyway and the nurse asked why they brought me here–so back in the ambulance I went to go and all of this time being moved around with a broken hip and NOTHING for pain and I tole them you BETTER not even think about billing me twice–It was a horrible and VERY painful-UNNECESSARY experience

  6. JJ on August 2nd, 2024 11:07 am

    RATS!!! there goes money that could have helped paved a new lane on Pine Forest north of I-10!!!!!
    Or pay for 20 new traffic only sheriff cars and officers
    (At least citationswould pay back to the county)
    MONEY LOST

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News