Teresita Alquero Agreed to Be Excluded for 5 Years for Paying Remuneration in the Form of Medical Directorship Compensation in Excess of Fair Market Value in Exchange for Referrals and Submitted Claims that Misidentified the Attending Physician

Effective December 8, 2020, in connection with the resolution of her False Claims Act liability, Teresita Lumanas Alquero (Alquero), Sugar Land, Texas, agreed to be excluded under 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7(b)(7) for 5 years. The investigation revealed and OIG alleged that Alquero knowingly and willfully paid improper remuneration in the form of medical directorship compensation that exceeded fair market value to a physician to induce his referrals of Medicare patients to home health and hospice companies formerly owned by Alquero and submitted claims to Medicare associated with those referrals. OIG also alleged that Alquero submitted claims for payment identifying another physician as the attending physician, when in fact, the physician did not provide services to patients because he was incarcerated in federal prison, and his medical license was suspended. Senior Counsel Ellen Slavin represented OIG.

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