We represent victims of reverse discrimination and anti-DEI whistleblowers

Elderly residents of care facilities such as nursing homes are prone to bedsores, falls and other types of accidents that leave them with wounds requiring medical treatment. Often, a key part of the healing process is debridement, which removes damaged or infected tissue from the wound. Given the frequency of these injuries, nursing home contracts seemingly can be very lucrative for wound care providers that perform debridement procedures. 

Still, many companies within the medical industry attempt to increase their revenue by taking improper advantage of government healthcare programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. While these businesses frequently get away with their illegal activity, the consequences can be very serious if they are caught. 

Recently, the Department of Justice filed a complaint under the False Claims Act in the Southern District of Georgia alleging that Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC and its founder, Dr. Ameet Vohra, engaged in a series of fraudulent billing practices. The company is one of the largest in its field, with hundreds of contractual relationships with nursing facilities. 

In their complaint, federal prosecutors allege that Vohra committed in the following ways:  

• Mischaracterization of treatments — According to the government, Vohra created software that was programmed to bill debridement work as a surgical procedure, even when it was not. By overstating the complexity of their services, they received excessive reimbursements from Medicare.

• Subpar physician training — Vohra employed doctors who lacked wound care expertise and trained them in a manner that omitted critical Medicare payment rules. Physicians were not adequately advised of the distinction between surgical and nonsurgical debridement procedures in the submission of claims to the government.

• Revenue-driven targets — Prosecutors say Vohra focused on attaining revenue targets rather the providing appropriate care. In some instances, this led to unnecessary debridement procedures and intentional miscoding of Medicare filings. 

The False Claims Act is a powerful tool for combating healthcare fraud, allowing the government to hold providers accountable for submitting false or fraudulent claims to federal healthcare programs like Medicare. If the allegations against Vohra are proven, the company could face significant financial penalties and reputational damage. Individuals who identify fraudulent conduct related to Medicare claims, such as the practices described here, might be able to collect payment for their assistance to the government. 

Kardell Law Group provides comprehensive legal counsel to whistleblowers who report impropriety involving government funds. Contact us today if you believe you have information that will help root out fraud.