International SOS Assistance, Inc., International SOS Government Services, Inc., International SOS, LP, Air Rescue Americas, Inc. Arnaud Vaissié; and Pascal Rey-Herme (collectively, “International SOS”), will pay $940,000 settling allegations that it overcharged TRICARE, the health care insurance system for members of the military services and their families. The overcharges related to aeromedical evacuation services by concealing discounts it received from third-party air ambulance providers in violation of the False Claims Act.
International SOS, is a provider of overseas healthcare services for the government and it had negotiated discounts from third-party air ambulance providers, which it was required to pass along to TRICARE. Instead, International SOS did not disclose the actual cost of the aeromedical evacuation services during the quoting process; billed TRICARE at the higher non-discounted amount; and received payment from TRICARE for the inflated costs, which International SOS contends it retained as a fee.
This settlement resolves allegations in a lawsuit by a former International SOS Regional Flight Desk Manager, under the qui tam (or whistleblower) provisions of the False Claims Act. The qui tam provisions permit private parties to sue for false claims on behalf of the government and to receive a share of any recovery. The relator here will receive $165,000 as his share of the recovery in the case. The relator was represented by Franklin J. Rooks, Jr., Esq. of Morgan Rooks, P.C., and Jared A. Jacobson, Esq. of Jared Jacobson Law, LLC.
The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Richard Nicholas v. International SOS Assistance, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 16-3927 (E.D. Pa.).
