The United States Attorney’s Office has announced a settlement involving Apple Corporate Wellness, Inc., now known as Bryn Medical Center and Basket Medical PLLC, over allegations of improper billing practices. Apple, a clinic based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has agreed to pay $1,148,598 to resolve claims related to their billing for electro-acupuncture services using auricular stimulation devices.
The United States contends that the clinic improperly billed Medicare by using the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code L8679. This code is intended for devices that are surgically implanted into the central nervous system or targeted peripheral nerves, typically requiring a surgical procedure performed in an operating room. However, Apple allegedly used this code for electro-acupuncture devices that were not surgically implanted, which involved non-surgical procedures using adhesive to secure devices behind patients’ ears.
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Medicare does not cover electro-acupuncture devices billed as neurostimulators, nor did it cover acupuncture during the relevant time period from June 28, 2016, to June 19, 2017.
This investigation was a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Southeastern Unified Program Integrity Contractor. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Rodriguez.
It is important to note that the claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
For more information, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s official announcement here.
Source: Read Original Release
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