Consulate Health Care of West Altamonte, a Florida nursing care facility, paid $33,388 after self-disclosing that it billed Medicare for services provided by a nurse who lacked a valid nursing license.

Consulate Health Care of West Altamonte (FL) — Unlicensed Nurse Billed to Medicare (2021)

Outcome: West Altamonte Facility Operations LLC, doing business as Consulate Health Care of West Altamonte, a Florida nursing care facility, paid $33,388.40 after self-disclosing that it billed Medicare for services provided by a nurse operating without a valid nursing license.

Consulate Health Care of West Altamonte is part of the Consulate Health Care long-term care network, which operates numerous skilled nursing facilities in Florida. At this facility, a nurse provided patient care services that were billed to Medicare, but the nurse lacked valid licensure during the period of service. The facility self-disclosed the violation to the OIG, resulting in a civil monetary penalty of $33,388.40 under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law.

Consulate Health Care has faced multiple enforcement actions across its network. Nursing facilities are required to verify and monitor nursing license status as a Condition of Participation in Medicare. The penalty was entered February 2, 2021.

Primary Source: OIG Enforcement Record