Gov't, TENS provider resolve lawsuit
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue May 21, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The government and RS Medical, a provider of TENS units and orthotics supplies, have reached a settlement for more than $1.2 million to resolve claims that employees at the company submitted false claims for several products, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. The documents lacked physician orders, the required documentation and/or medical necessity, according to the DOJ. The investigation began in February 2011 when whistleblower Sally Balentine filed a qui tam lawsuit in federal court under the False Claims Act. A whistleblower provision allowed Balentine to file a lawsuit on behalf of the government because she had information that the defendant violated the act. In addition to submitting false claims for TENS units, two RS Medical locations in South Carolina and Illinois submitted false claims for back braces, knee braces, muscle stimulators and cervical traction systems, the release noted. Balentine will receive more than $242,9333 from the proceeds of the settlement, plus $80,000 to cover attorney fees and costs.
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