PHILADELPHIA - Local ambulance service provider Manoa Fire Company (MFC), of Haverford Township, PA, will pay $36,912.46 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act as a result of ambulance services that it provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The civil settlement resolves allegations that, between July 23, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2013, on some of the Basic Life Support runs MFC provided, the ambulance attendant had not timely completed an advanced first aid class or that the attendant’s advanced first aid certification had lapsed.
During the time in question, Pennsylvania and federal rules required that an ambulance providing Basic Life Support services have at least two individuals present: a licensed emergency medical technician (“EMT") and an “ambulance attendant" who had completed an emergency vehicles operation course and who had current certifications in both cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced first aid class. The latter required the completion of a class of 40 or more hours approved by Pennsylvania’s Department of Health.
“Every ambulance service provider is responsible for ensuring that its employees have satisfied all of their legal requirements, including retraining requirements, before they are allowed to serve on ambulances," said Memeger. “We are pleased that the company has accepted responsibility for those errors and has put in place measures to ensure that in the future, all of its ambulance service providers will have the training and experience necessary to render emergency first aid."
This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Paul W. Kaufman and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
