Kindred Hospice in Arkansas paid $32,224 after self-disclosing that it billed federal healthcare programs for hospice services provided by an unlicensed nurse.

Kindred Hospice (Arkansas) — Unlicensed Nurse Billed to Medicare (2018)

Outcome: Odyssey HealthCare Operating A, LP d/b/a Kindred Hospice, operating in Arkansas, paid $32,224.82 after self-disclosing that it billed federal healthcare programs for hospice nursing services provided by a nurse who did not hold a valid nursing license.

Kindred Hospice (part of Kindred Healthcare, later Gentiva Health Services) is one of the largest hospice providers in the United States. At its Arkansas operations, a nurse provided hospice care services to patients and those services were billed to Medicare and/or Medicaid, but the nurse lacked a valid nursing license during the relevant service period. The organization self-disclosed the violation and settled for $32,224.82 on November 8, 2018.

Hospice providers are required under Medicare Conditions of Participation to ensure all clinical staff hold current, valid professional licenses. This case demonstrates that even large national operators with substantial compliance infrastructure can experience license lapse violations without systematic automated monitoring.

Primary Source: OIG Enforcement Record