Tennessee Nursing Home Pays to Resolve FCA Claims of Substandard and Worthless Care
March 22nd, 2018
Spring Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center and the federal government have reached an agreement to resolve allegations brought against Spring Gate under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) and Tennessee’s equivalent statute.
According to the lawsuit, Spring Gate prescribed heavy doses of anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety drugs to some of its residents without medical justification.
The lawsuit claimed the medications were prescribed to keep patients from leaving their beds and for other issues not directly related to their medical conditions.
Payment for delivery of medications under such circumstances constitutes a false claim under the FCA. Spring Gate, without admitting liability, agreed to pay the federal government and the state of Tennessee $500,000.
In early February, Spring Gate released a statement saying it “cooperated fully in the government’s investigation.” No mention of the lawsuit was found on Spring Gate’s website at press time.
Robert B. Vogel, MD, JD
Retinal Ophthalmologist at Piedmont Eye Center, Lynchburg VA;
Attorney, Overbey Hawkins & Wright, PLLS, Lynchburg, VA;
Adjunct Professor, Humanities and Bioethics, Liberty University School of Medicine, Lynchburg, VA.