Escambia County, Florida, has agreed to pay $3,500,000 to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act by falsely billing government healthcare programs for emergency medical services and transportation. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The settlement addresses claims against Escambia County related to ambulance and emergency medical technicians lacking necessary certifications who provided healthcare services through Escambia County Emergency Medical Services from January 1, 2013, to 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 U.S. Attorney Coody. “Our office will continue to uphold the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs and vigorously pursue health care providers that defraud the government.”
The settlement also resolves claims under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act brought by Dr. Rayme Edler. These provisions allow a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Dr. Edler’s qui tam case, filed in May 2020, is titled United States of America ex rel. Rayme M. Edler, M.D., v. Escambia County, 3:20-cv-05503-MCR-HTC.
The civil settlement agreement does not constitute an admission of liability by Escambia County, nor does it imply that the United States’ claims were not well-founded.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter.