Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Atlanta Behavioral Medicine, Inc., an Atlanta-based psychotherapy services provider, has agreed to pay $650,000 to resolve allegations that it improperly billed Georgia Medicaid for therapy services that never occurred.
“Our Medicaid Fraud Division works diligently to uphold the integrity of Georgia’s Medicaid program and protect taxpayer dollars no matter the amount,” said Carr. “This includes pursuing providers who violate the public’s trust by abusing a system meant to care for our most vulnerable. We will not hesitate to hold those who engage in this type of behavior accountable for their actions.”
An investigation by the Georgia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division uncovered evidence that between 2016 and 2020, Atlanta Behavioral Medicine improperly billed the Medicaid program for family psychotherapy sessions on a number of occasions when its patients only received basic medication management. According to accepted coding standards in the industry, these visits failed to qualify as therapy sessions, which resulted in Atlanta Behavioral Medicine receiving overpayments for the actual service rendered.
This case was investigated by the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Division, including Investigator Paris Patrick, former Investigative Auditor Jimmy Oho and Chief Nurse Investigator Judy Cooper. The civil settlement was reached by Assistant Attorney General Jessica Hall.
When approached concerning the State's allegations, Atlanta Behavioral Medicine cooperated to reach an efficient resolution to the matter. As a part of the settlement, the defendants denied the factual allegations. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Original source can be found here.
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