One of Missouri's largest urgent care chains, Total Access Urgent Care (TAUC), has agreed to a $9.1 million settlement to resolve allegations of submitting false claims for medical services, including COVID-19 testing.
The settlement, announced by the U.S. Attorney's office in St. Louis, pertains to over two dozen TAUC clinics in the St. Louis area. The U.S. Attorney emphasized that the settlement aims to fully reimburse three federal health care programs for TAUC's alleged overbilling for COVID tests and office visits. Federal prosecutors asserted that TAUC utilized improper billing codes for COVID-19 testing claims submitted between April and December 2021, leading to inflated reimbursements.
Furthermore, from 2017 to 2021, TAUC was accused of falsely indicating physician participation in certain office visits that were overseen by non-physician practitioners. This misrepresentation allegedly aimed to secure higher reimbursement rates, as visits involving physicians typically receive elevated compensation.
In response to the settlement, TAUC stated that it cooperated fully with the investigation and highlighted improvements made to its compliance program. The company's commitment to addressing the allegations reflects an ongoing effort to ensure ethical practices and regulatory compliance within its urgent care operations.
The settlement underscores the significance of accurate billing and adherence to healthcare regulations in providing medical services.
