Arizona corporation to pay nearly $180M for overpayments by the VA
Jan 4, 2021, 4:25 AM | Updated: 11:43 am
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX – An Arizona corporation in charge of administering government heath care programs agreed to pay almost $180 million to resolve overpayments from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Justice announced in a press release Thursday.
TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corporation administers government health care programs, including certain portions of the VA Patient-Centered Community Care Program (PC3) and the VA’s former Veterans Choice Program.
The programs enable veterans to receive medical care from providers in their community. TriWest’s role is to coordinate medical appointments and make payments to health care providers. As a result, they are paid by the VA.
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The alleged overpayments included payments by the VA to TriWest twice for the same services as well as payments for services where TriWest received full or partial reimbursement from certain health care providers.
“The VA provides invaluable assistance to those who have sacrificed on our behalf,” U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey for the District of Arizona said in the release.
“It is vital that those who administer programs for the VA be held accountable to do so with the utmost care and integrity.”
According to the release, TriWest will pay $179.7 million to resolve the overpayment claims.
