Hayden O’Byrne United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida | The Florida Bar
The United States government has initiated legal action under the False Claims Act against Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC and its founder, Dr. Ameet Vohra. The company is accused of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare for wound care services that were overbilled or medically unnecessary.
Vohra Wound Physicians, a large specialty wound care provider, coordinates with numerous nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities nationwide. Their services are designed to be administered directly at the patient's bedside.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne from the Southern District of Florida stated, “This office is committed to protecting our nation’s seniors and the important federal programs that support them.” He emphasized the seriousness with which providers exploiting public funds are pursued by authorities.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Granston from the Justice Department’s Civil Division reinforced this perspective, indicating how such fraudulent activities undermine Medicare's integrity and misallocate taxpayer dollars. "Providers that overbill the government for services, or bill for services that are unreasonable or medically unnecessary, undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and waste taxpayer dollars," he said.
Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia highlighted the broader impact of healthcare fraud. “Healthcare fraud is harmful to all consumers, artificially and unnecessarily increasing the costs of care for everyone,” she commented.
The complaint alleges a deliberate scheme by Vohra and Dr. Vohra to enhance revenue from Medicare through false billing of surgical debridement procedures. Allegations point to the use of proprietary Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software programmed to misclassify non-surgical procedures as surgical, training without covering Medicare payment rules properly, and setting high financial targets for physicians.
Further claims indicate misuse of billing codes, particularly relating to Modifier 25, causing claims submission for evaluations tied to procedures that were not eligible for separate billing.
The Southern District of Florida's U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with the Civil Division's Fraud Section and the Southern District of Georgia's U.S. Attorney’s Office, are responsible for the case. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General is providing investigative support. Legal representation includes Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cheek, Trial Attorney Kirsten Mayer, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Grover.
The case exemplifies the systemic effort by the government to combat healthcare fraud using the False Claims Act. Complaints and tips about potential mismanagement concerning fraud or waste can be reported to HHS.
It remains crucial to note that the claims stand as allegations at this point, with no liability confirmed.
Detailed information about the case is accessible via the Southern District of Florida's District Court’s website.
