PRMC and ambulance company in hot water over Medicare fraud allegations

PRMC and an Ambulance firm that the hospital uses are in hot water after allegations that the two knowingly over-billed Medicare on thousands of non-emergency trips. According to the lawsuit filed by attorney David Scher on behalf of a former Hart to Heart ambulance driver that lives in Salisbury, the transportation service allegedly falsified Medicare claims to say that ambulances were necessary to transport newly-discharged hospital patients.The lawsuit also claims that if patients refused to be taken out on a stretcher the ambulance company allegedly ordered its employees to falsely report that the patients couldn't stand or could walk only with maximum assistance.
 

"In addition to stealing money from tax payers both federally and at the state level I think that there's harm to patients and these are patients who are living in hospitals in Salisbury and nursing homes or in home. They're being picked up and forcibly transported to places they need to go but in a way that is embarrassing and demeaning," said Employment Law Group Principal David Scher.

  The lawsuit also accuses Peninsula Regional of participating in the Hart to Heart scheme, arguing that the hospital's staff accepted and helped with the questionable transports. PRMC released a statement saying:

"PRMC is aware of the matter and the allegations involving Hart to Heart. While PRMC believes that it has at all times conducted itself appropriately, the allegations are being reviewed and investigated and PRMC is unable to comment further on the matter."

47 will continue to follow this story and will update you as more information becomes available.