To settle allegations that it submitted false claims for medical services, including COVID-19 testing, Total Access Urgent Care, one of the largest urgent care chains in Missouri, will pay US$9.1 million.
The company manages more than two dozen clinics in the St. Louis area.
On December 21, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced the settlement.
In a news release, U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming said, “This settlement will fully repay three federal health care programs for TAUC’s over-billing for COVID tests and office visits.”
According to federal prosecutors, between April 2021 and December 2021, Total Access Urgent Care submitted false insurance claims for COVID-19 testing using improper billing codes, resulting in the company getting reimbursements at an inflated rate.
From 2017 to 2021, the company also allegedly falsely claimed that doctors participated in some office visits that non-physician practitioners oversaw. The reimbursement rate is higher for visits involving physicians.
In a statement, Total Access Urgent Care said it “cooperated fully” with the investigation and improved its compliance program.
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