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Longwood Management Corporation and 27 affiliated skilled nursing facilities have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare for rehabilitation therapy services that were not reasonable or necessary, the Department of Justice announced today. Longwood is headquartered in Los Angeles, and the 27 skilled nursing facilities are located in Southern California.

The settlement covers conduct that occurred from May 1, 2008 through August 1, 2012 at six facilities: Alameda Care Center in Burbank, Burbank Rehabilitation Center, Magnolia Gardens Convalescent Hospital in Granada Hills, Montrose Healthcare Center, Sherman Oaks Health & Rehab Center, and West Hills Health & Rehab Center.

The settlement also covers conduct that occurred from January 1, 2006 through October 10, 2014 at 21 facilities: Burlington Convalescent Hospital in the Westlake District of Los Angeles, Chino Valley Rehabilitation Center LLC, Colonial Care Center in Long Beach, Covina Rehabilitation Center, Crenshaw Nursing Home, Green Acres Lodge in Rosemead, Imperial Care Center in Studio City, Imperial Crest Health Care Center in Hawthorne, Laurel Convalescent Hospital in Fontana, Live Oak Rehabilitation Center in San Gabriel, Longwood Manor Convalescent Hospital in the Mid-City District of Los Angeles, Monterey Care Center in Rosemead, Intercommunity Healthcare Center in Norwalk, Park Anaheim Healthcare Center, Pico Rivera Healthcare Center, San Gabriel Convalescent Center, Whittier Pacific Care Center, Studio City Rehabilitation Center, Sunnyview Care Center in the Pico Union District of Los Angeles, View Park Convalescent Center in Baldwin Hills, and Western Convalescent Hospital in the Jefferson Park District of Los Angeles.

Longwood allegedly submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unreasonable and unnecessary Ultra High levels of rehabilitation therapy for Medicare Part A residents. Specifically, Longwood allegedly pressured therapists to increase the amount of therapy provided to patients to meet pre-planned targets for Medicare revenue. These targets were alleged to have been set without regard to patients’ individual therapy needs and could only be achieved by billing for a high percentage of patients at the Ultra High level.

The settlement partially resolves allegations brought in two lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allows private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The whistleblowers – Judy Boyce, Benjamin Monsod and Keith Pennetti – will collectively receive $3,006,000 of the settlement proceeds.