Three Symphony senior care facilities in the Chicago area paid $107,831 after employing an excluded licensed practical nurse who billed services to federal healthcare programs while barred from participation.

Symphony Chicago-Area SNFs — Excluded LPN Employed and Billed to Medicare (2025)

Outcome: Three Symphony skilled nursing facilities in the Chicago area paid $107,831 after employing an excluded licensed practical nurse whose services were billed to federal healthcare programs in violation of the Civil Monetary Penalties Law.

Symphony Crestwood, LLC; Symphony Jackson Square, LLC (d/b/a Symphony Chicago West); and Symphony Midway, LLC — three affiliated long-term care facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area — employed an individual who had been excluded from participation in any Federal health care program. The excluded worker was a licensed practical nurse who provided nursing care that was subsequently billed to Medicare and/or Medicaid.

Federal law prohibits healthcare entities from employing or contracting with individuals on the OIG exclusion list. Billing for services provided by excluded individuals constitutes a Civil Monetary Penalties Law violation regardless of whether the entity knew of the exclusion at the time of billing. The facilities self-disclosed the violation and settled for $107,831.96 on September 29, 2025.

Skilled nursing facilities are responsible for conducting LEIE database checks before hiring and monthly thereafter for all staff whose services are billed to federal programs.

Primary Source: OIG Enforcement Record