An Orlando skilled nursing facility and an orthopedic surgeon have agreed to pay $1.5 million to the federal government to resolve allegations that they had an illegal kickback scheme that involved Medicare and TRICARE patients.
The Justice Department alleged that Conway Lakes Health & Rehabilitation Center and its management company Clear Choice Health Care had a kickback arrangement with Orlando orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Krumins. The nursing facility paid Dr. Krumins under a sham “medical director” agreement in exchange for the referral of Medicare and TRICARE patients. The Justice Department also claims that Dr. Krumins engaged in a similar scheme with a related home-health agency.
This type of financial agreement violates the Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits individuals and institutions from offering or accepting payments to influence others to give them referrals. It is also a violation of the physician self-referral law, or Stark Law.
Conway Lakes, Clear Choice, and their executives have agreed to pay $1 million to settle the allegations, which Dr. Krumins has agreed to pay $500,000.
In a prepared statement, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez said, “Our office will aggressively pursue health care providers who engage in kickback schemes…. These schemes drive up costs and undermine patient care. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to advocate for the integrity of federally subsidized health programs and for the proper care of our seniors and our veterans.”
The allegations that were resolved by the settlement agreements were originally brought in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by a former employee of Conway Lakes, Jonathan Montes de Oca. The Act allows private citizens who have knowledge of fraud against the government to bring an action on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. Montes de Oca will receive $267,000 as his share of the recovery.
Glad he was caught. I was notified by mail 2/28/19 that United Healthcare that Kummins was no longer participating in their network. A quick Google search determined why. Now the Ortho. group he is associated with has a Surgical Center so they can bill insurance carriers ridiculous amounts for very minor outpatient surgical procedures.
so, so sad. Both of us had knee replacements done and i still feel that conway lakes deserves a 5 star rating based on how all those wonderful Dr.s, nurses and rehab pros treated me. I f anyone knows where Dr krummins’ is, I’d appreciate it. He’s paid his penalty-all of us live in glass houses, so stop throwing stones around!!
Dr. Krumins did a total knee replacement on my left knee on 1 February 2016. I had no choice, but was sent to Conway Lakes for 5 days. The woman Therapist I had on Sunday 7 Feb 2016 pushed the knee so far back that I screamed from the pain.
On 21 February 2016 at home while getting up from the toilet, I felt the pain, and heard the pop. Ambulance to hospital and on 23 Feb 2016, Dr Konsens operated as I had a shredded knee, and tendon. In 27 yrs Dr Konsens had only seen 2 patients with what happened to me. One was a College football student and I was his #2 patient.
2 months in the Commons Nursing Facility And Dr. Krumins and Jewett had put me into a Bundle Program (and I had Medicare and Tricare for Life). I was the 1st and only Patient on this Program at the Commons and Conway Lakes And never told I was put in this program.
2 months in the Commons, then home into a hospital bed in the Den, and no standing or weight bearing on the leg.
For the 2nd Surgery while a Patient of Jewett and Dr Konsens, I NEVER HAD 1 X-RAY TAKEN OF THE KNEE.
Once the article came out in the Newspaper about Dr. Krumins and Conway Lakes, I contacted the CEO of Jewett and I was called back by a new 6 month PR employee who all he could say to me was, They let Dr, Krumins go.
And my life is now challenged daily as I can only walk with a Walker. Therefore I can never live my life Walking normally again.
Jewett Ortho Drs. Failed me and could careless.
I now am 83 and my husband almost 90 so he has to do everything to care for me.
Dr, Krumins was dealing with the Law Suit against himself just as he was doing my knee replacement on 1 February 2016.
I lost my independence and can thank Dr, Krumins for that.
He never had the courtesy to speak to me when the surgery he did crippled me.
Shame on the two haters above. First to Joseph, PSCC is an excellent Outpatient facility and is an asset to our community. Unless you have been a patient there, you really can’t make an assessment of the quality of work they perform. You definitely should not make the assumption that they ” bill insurance carriers ridiculous amounts for very minor outpatient surgical procedures”.
Second to Barbara, unfortunately risks are possible with any surgery and you are informed of that prior to giving consent to have the procedure done. How do you blame Dr. Krumins for your lost independence? Dr, Krumins had nothing to do with your shredded knee and tendon. So who are you really blaming? Dr. Krumins who it sounds like performed a successful knee replacement surgery? The therapist who pushed your knee back causing you to scream in pain? Dr. Konsens who you really don’t give details about other than he operated on your knee?
I would just like to remind both of you and anyone else who wants to place blame of a verse in the Bible that says
“Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone” and also the verse that says “Judge not, lest you be judged”.
Dr. Krumins is an excellent and very skilled surgeon. He genuinely cares about his patients. He performed a total knee replacement for my husband and he has given him back his independence and ability to function in his daily life without constant pain and suffering. He was available to us during the entire recovery time and responded immediately to any questions or concerns that we had.
Dr. Krumins, I am delighted to report, is doing very well and recovering from surgery of his own and the best news of all is, he WILL be back, and fortunately performing surgery on many more lucky patients. It is definitely Jewett’s loss!
Dr. Krumins years ago did a perfect job on replacement of my sister’s knees due to her severe RA. Years later I went to him on her recommendation for osteoarthritis of knees. He could give the easiest and longest acting knee injections. However, in 2018, I was having lots of knee problems. I had to see him three visits in a rather short period and I noted how irritable to the point of hateful he was. I could not figure it out as he had always been so pleasant. Now I finally know why his change in behavior and why when I last called for an appointment with him I received a vague answer as to why he was not there. WOW, I would not have expected such criminal actions of him. Just proves you never know why your Dr. is acting out of character even if you are a Nurse Practitioner.
Though BOTH my knees are crap, DR. KRUMINS worked with me to AVOID REPLACEMENT even though it meant $114 thousand in costs split between himself and the hospital. Though I am saddened about this turn of events I choose to believe that but for his EXPERTISE AND HIS CARE, I could have rushed into bilateral knee replacement. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, DR KRUMINS HAS MORE THAN EARNED MY SUPPORT. JEWETT ORTHOPAEDICS DID WHAT THEY HAD TO BUT KENNETH KRUMINS SAVED ME UNNECESSARY SURGERY. I dropped 45 lbs and increased my exercise regimen. There is still pain which I care for with nsaids and ice packs. I still go to JEWETT ORTHO BUT WHEN IT’S TIME DR KRUMINS WILL DO MY REPLACEMENTS AS WE HAVE AGREED.
GREED and QUALITY are 2 different things. Dr. KRUMINS did my knee replacement in 2018 so far so good.
His quality of work has nothing to do with the human greed factor for $$$. They run parallel.
I don’t condone what side business he had going with the rehab place. But as a surgeon he did a good job on my knee.
Too bad such a nice Doctor got caught up and took from so many. The money that was taken for who knows how many years is Our Medicare
Not the institutions we go to and trust.
So sad and upset for his family, trust is very important!!!
I would not ever return to any one that betrayed so many. It’s all about getting ahead and making $$$$$$$$