PENNSYLVANIA
A federal jury convicted a registered nurse who took part in a multimillion-dollar fraud on Medicare that involved hospice care, according to authorities.
Patricia McGill, 68, of Philadelphia, was found guilty Monday of four counts of health care fraud.
U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno of Pennsylvania set sentencing for May 16.
The evidence at trial showed that between 2005 and 2008, McGill was the director of professional services for Home Care Hospice, a for-profit business that provided hospice services for patients at nursing homes, hospitals and private residences.
McGill allowed the admission of ineligible patients for hospice services, which contributed to Home Care Hospice submitting millions of dollars in fraudulent claims to Medicare.
Home Care Hospice billed Medicare for approximately $9.3 million in hospice services that were allegedly provided by Home Care Hospice nurses and health aides for patients at nursing homes, hospitals and private residences.
However, the government’s evidence established that many Home Care Hospice patients did not meet the Medicare criteria for hospice care and that Home Care Hospice billed Medicare for hospice care that was not provided to the patients, according to officials.