Alive Hospice self-disclosed to OIG and settled for $67,714.74 for billing Medicare for hospice services provided by a nurse who lacked proper licensure; penalty calculated as full salary and benefits during unlicensed period.

Alive Hospice, Inc. (Nashville, TN) — Unlicensed Nurse Billing

Outcome: Self-disclosed to OIG and settled for $67,714.74 after billing for hospice services provided by an unlicensed nurse; single damages calculated as full salary and benefits paid during the unlicensed period.

Alive Hospice, Inc., a Nashville, Tennessee hospice provider, self-reported to HHS-OIG that it had submitted billing claims for hospice nursing services actually delivered by a nurse who lacked the proper license at the time of service. Despite the nurse's unlicensed status, the organization billed Medicare as if the services had been rendered by a properly credentialed professional.

OIG calculated single damages as the full salary and benefits paid to the nurse during the unlicensed period — a standard methodology applied to self-disclosure cases that reflects the actual compensation paid for work that could not be legitimately billed. The voluntary self-disclosure resulted in a favorable civil settlement rather than criminal prosecution.

The settlement was finalized December 1, 2025.

Primary Source: Alive Hospice Agreed to Pay $67,000 for Allegedly Violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law by Submitting Claims for Services Provided by an Unlicensed Individual