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Important information
- Government Actions:Government Action: BBB reports on known government actions involving business’ marketplace conduct:Oviatt Hearing and Balance, LLC Settlement with U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York
The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.
On December 11, 2018, Oviatt Hearing and Balance, LLC (Oviatt) entered into a settlement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York. Oviatt (which operates audiology practices on Syracuse, Camillus, Manlius, and Oswego, NY) agreed to pay $566,263.08 to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by falsely billing the federal government for services rendered by unlicensed individuals and by inappropriately providing gift cards and other inducements to Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries.
The settlement resolves allegations that Oviatt violated the False Claims Act in two respects. First, Oviatt allowed unlicensed individuals, while working alone with no licensed audiologist or other qualified provider onsite, to perform audiology examinations on federal health care program beneficiaries. Oviatt then submitted claims for payment for those examinations to Medicare and TRICARE, which falsely identified licensed audiologists as the rendering providers. Second, Oviatt offered and provided kickbacks in the form of improper inducements to federal health care program beneficiaries so that they would come to Oviatt where services billable to the federal government were available. The inducements included entering beneficiaries into a contest for a free iPad, and offering beneficiaries free Butterball turkeys, $15 Visa gift cards, $15 Dunkin Donuts gift cards, and $30 Omaha Steaks gift cards.
As part of the settlement, Oviatt admitted that: “(i) on various occasions from July 2011 through January 2018, Oviatt offered and provided improper inducements in the form of gift cards, gift checks, iPads, and similar promotions to Federal health care program beneficiaries, and (ii) on various days from January 2016 through November 2016, Oviatt allowed two unlicensed individuals, who were alone in the office and unsupervised, to perform audiology tests on Federal health care program beneficiaries and then Oviatt billed those services to Medicare and TRICARE as though they had been rendered by a licensed provider."
Overview
BBB Accredited Since: 5/24/2011
Years in Business: 18
BBB Accreditation & Rating
About This Business
Business Details
- Local BBB:
- BBB Serving New Jersey
- BBB File Opened:
- 4/23/2008
- Business Started:
- 8/1/2006
- Business Incorporated:
- 6/12/2006
- Type of Entity:
- Corporation
- Alternate Names:
- HEARINGLife USA, Inc.
- Business Management:
- Mr. Steve W. Barlow, Compliance Officer
Additional Contact Information
- Additional Phone Numbers
- Other Phone: (732) 683-1140
- Other Phone: (973) 226-6722
- Other Phone: (732) 202-0420
- Other Phone: (856) 438-5354
- Other Phone: (973) 627-0009
- Other Phone: (732) 424-0445
- Other Phone: (908) 222-1845
- Other Phone: (908) 354-6868
- Other Phone: (201) 567-0370
- Other Phone: (908) 441-2784
- Other Phone: (908) 526-6990
- Other Phone: (973) 656-1100
- Other Phone: (732) 775-1700
- Other Phone: (973) 862-6495
- Other Phone: (609) 641-1963
- Other Phone: (908) 454-4611
- Other Phone: (973) 366-6186
- Other Phone: (856) 457-5320
- Other Phone: (908) 756-5227
- Other Phone: (908) 228-5650
- Other Phone: (201) 483-2960
- Other Phone: (908) 687-2636
- Other Phone: (609) 378-5160
- Other Phone: (732) 238-1664
- Other Phone: (732) 847-3366
- Other Phone: (201) 857-3737
- Other Phone: (732) 359-8112
- Other Phone: (862) 257-1370
- Other Phone: (732) 350-0022
- Other Phone: (732) 529-7185
- Other Phone: (732) 383-7358
Licensing information
This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00094500 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00117000 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00093900 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00114700 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00134200 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00069600 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00131200 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00126700 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00136000 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00101500 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 41YA00064800 for this business, issued by NJ State Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
NJ State Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00057200 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00125200 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00068900 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00092900 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00093400 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00080400 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 41YA00046800 for this business, issued by NJ State Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
NJ State Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00136600 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00131000 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00091800 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 41YA00059400 for this business, issued by NJ State Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
NJ State Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00129300 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00118700 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00128700 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00138100 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00140100 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00049600 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00141800 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
BBB records show a license number of 25MG00124100 for this business, issued by Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee
PO Box 45038
Newark NJ 07101
Additional Information
- Business Categories
- Hearing Assistive Devices
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