Escambia County pays $3.5 million to U.S. government in Medicare fraud lawsuit settlement

Escambia County has paid out $3.5 million to the U.S. government as part of a settlement agreement in a Medicare fraud lawsuit.

Escambia County commissioners voted to approve a $5 million settlement in May  in a lawsuit alleging the county filed false claims under Medicare through its ambulance service.

The lawsuit, brought by the county's former medical director, Dr. Rayme Edler, under the False Claims Act, alleged the county falsely billed the federal government for ambulance services without properly certified personnel and retaliated against Edler for blowing the whistle on former county staff.

The U.S. Attorney's office of the Northern District of Florida said the allegations involved billing for medical services with EMTs lacking the requisite certifications from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2020.

"This settlement with Escambia County demonstrates our commitment to protect federal health care funds and to hold providers accountable for fraudulent billing especially when it impacts the safety and well-being of our citizens," U.S. Attorney Jason Coody said in a press release. "Our office will continue to uphold the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs and vigorously pursue health care providers that defraud the government."

As part of the settlement, Escambia County did not admit any liability.

As part of the settlement, the county will also pay Edler $1.5 million on top of a previous settlement of $950,000 over allegations of retaliation.

The lawsuit also made public the existence of more than 50,000 text messages downloaded from Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh that cover a period of more than two years.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia County pays $3.5 million to U.S. in legal settlement