Independence Home Healthcare, Inc.

California, CA 2024 Home Health / Home Care

OIG HHS Employing Excluded Individual Anti Kickback Statute Civil Monetary Penalty 20 Year Exclusion

Penalty

$377,773

Outcome

Independence Home Healthcare Inc. and owner Jose Vincente Perez paid $377,773 and were both excluded from all federal healthcare programs for 20 years after employing an excluded office manager and paying kickbacks to referral sources in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Details

Independence Home Healthcare (California) — Excluded Employee + Kickbacks, 20-Year Ban (2024)

Outcome: Independence Home Healthcare, Inc. and owner Jose Vincente Perez paid $377,773.70 and were both excluded from all Federal health care programs for 20 years after employing an excluded office manager and paying kickbacks to referral sources in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Independence Home Healthcare, Inc., a California home health agency operated by Jose Vincente Perez, committed two violations: (1) employing an office manager who had been excluded from Federal health care programs; and (2) paying remuneration "in the form of checks" to individuals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute — payments to induce patient referrals.

The combined violations resulted in the most severe OIG enforcement outcome short of criminal prosecution: a 20-year exclusion from all Federal healthcare programs for both the company and its owner. This effectively constitutes a permanent industry ban, as most home health companies cannot survive a 20-year Medicare/Medicaid exclusion. The settlement was entered January 8, 2024 and includes payment of $377,773.70. The case demonstrates that combining AKS violations with excluded-individual employment elevates enforcement risk to existential levels.

Primary Source: OIG Enforcement Record

How Crucible Prevents This

Crucible's Anti-Kickback Statute compliance controls would flag payments to referral sources that lack legitimate compensation arrangements. LEIE screening hooks would detect the excluded office manager. The 20-year exclusion outcome — effectively a permanent industry ban for both the entity and owner — demonstrates the maximum enforcement severity for combined AKS and excluded-individual violations.

Source: Independence Home Healthcare and Jose Vincente Perez Agreed to Pay $377,773.70 and Be Excluded for 20 Years for Allegedly Violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law by Employing an Excluded Individual and Paying Improper Remuneration

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