Nursing home, government settle Medicare claims suit

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The federal government has announced an out-of-court settlement in its civil lawsuit against the operators of a Joplin nursing home over allegations of making false claims to Medicare and Medicaid.

The settlement, announced Wednesday, requires NHC Healthcare Corp. to pay $250,000 to the government. The lawsuit had also alleged that NHC failed to comply with a number of federal health care program regulations.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City.

The corporation and its subsidiary, NHC/OP LP, operate NHC Healthcare Center in Joplin.

As part of the settlement, NHC admits no wrongdoing. The lawsuit had alleged false claims, totaling almost $40,500, made to Medicare and Medicaid in 1998.

The nursing home and the government will also work together to resolve quality of care issues, according to the terms of the settlement.