California gets $15 million in Medi-Cal fraud settlement from contraceptive company

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH

CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

THE

(The Center Square) - The California Department of Justice (DOJ) and Attorney General Rob Bonta, announced a $15 million Medi-Cal fraud settlement on Tuesday.

The three-year investigation by the DOJ of The Pill Company, a Silicon Valley online contraceptives provider, found that Medi-Cal and Medi-Cal managed care plans had been defrauded through the billing, and dispensation of contraceptives “in excess of medical necessity” and through improperly coded telemedicine medical visits. Patients were also provided with products they did not ask for or want.

“The Pill Club unacceptably siphoned off Medi-Cal funding intended to help vulnerable communities access essential healthcare,” Mr. Bonta said. A release by the DOJ stated, “The settlement resolves allegations that the company unlawfully billed California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, millions of dollars in public funds in an allegedly fraudulent scheme that exploited the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) essential coverage mandate, which ensures that insurance providers, including

Medi-Cal, cover contraception.” traffic.

“This Agreement is neither an admission of liability by The Pill Club/Favor nor a concession by California that its claims are not well founded,” the Settlement Agreement said. “To avoid the delay, uncertainty, inconvenience, and expense of protracted litigation of the foregoing dispute, and in consideration of the mutual promises and obligations of this Agreement, the Parties agree..” The DOJ’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, which “works aggressively to protect residents in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities from abuse or neglect,” and prosecutes those who perpetrate fraud on Medi-Cal, led the investigation.

“I am grateful to the whistleblowers and our investigators who were instrumental in holding The Pill Club accountable. At the California Department of Justice, we fight every day to protect and expand access to healthcare. We will not tolerate companies who attempt to unlawfully enrich themselves at Medi-Cal’s expense,” Mr. Bonta said.

California’s Medi-Cal program provides healthcare to residents of limited income and guarantees coverage for contraception.

Here’s Caltrans’ schedule for closures:

NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 101

Sunday nights, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be one lane from Santa Monica Road to Sheffield Drive with the on- and off-ramps closed at South Padaro/Santa Claus Lane and North Padaro Lane.

Monday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be one lane from Santa Monica Road to Sheffield Drive with on- and off-ramps at South Padaro/Santa Claus Lane and North Padaro Lane.

The off-ramp at Olive Mill is expected to reopen upon roundabout completion. Until then, drivers can use the northbound off-ramp at San Ysidro Road.

Caltrans expects the on-ramp at Ortega Hill Road to reopen

Tuesday. Until then, drivers can use the on-ramp at Sheffield Drive.

SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAY 101

Sunday nights from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. will be one lane from Sheffield Drive to Carpinteria Avenue.

Monday through Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. will be one lane from Sheffield Drive to Carpinteria Avenue. The on-ramp at Olive Mill Road is anticipated to reopen in late February. Until then, drivers can use the southbound on-ramp at Sheffield Drive.

The off-ramp at North Padaro Lane will be closed for up to three months and is expected to reopen in mid-March. Until then, drivers can use the detour at South Padaro Lane and Via Real.

— Katherine Zehnder

WENDY McCAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . Co-Publisher

ARTHUR VON WIESENBERGER . . . . .Co-Publisher

YOLANDA APODACA . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Operations

DAVE MASON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor

HOW TO REACH US . . .

MAIN OFFICE 715 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 93101..805-564-5200

MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara 93102

NEWSROOM ADVERTISING

News Hotline 805-564-5277

Email...dmason@newspress.com

Life 805-564-5277

Sports 805-564-5177

News Fax 805-966-6258

Corrections 805-564-5277

Classified 805-963-4391

Classified Fax 805-966-1421

Retail 805-564-5139

Retail Fax 805-564-5189

Toll Free 1-800-423-8304

Voices/editorial pages ..805-564-5277

COPYRIGHT ©202

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

All rights are reserved on material produced by the News-Press, including stories, photos, graphics, maps and advertising. News-Press material is the property of Ampersand Publishing LLC. Reproduction or nonpersonal usage for any purpose without written permission of the News-Press is expressly prohibited. Other material, including news service stories, comics, syndicated features and columns, may be protected by separate copyrights and trademarks. Their presentation by the News-Press is with permission limited to one-time publication and does not permit other use without written release by the original rights holder.

HOW TO GET US . . . CIRCULATION ISSUES 805-966-7171 refunds@newspress.com newsubscriptions@newspress.com vacationholds@newspress.com cancellations@newspress.com

Mail delivery of the News-Press is available in most of Santa Barbara County. If you do not receive your paper Monday through Saturday, please call our Circulation Department. The Circulation Department is open Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES www.newspress.com Newspress.com is a local virtual community network providing information about Santa Barbara, in addition to the online edition of the News-Press.

Mail delivery in Santa Barbara County: $5.08 per week includes sales tax, daily, and the Weekend edition. Holidays only, $3.85 per week includes sales tax. Single-copy price of 75 cents daily and $2 Weekend edition includes sales tax at vending racks. Tax may be added to copies puchased elsewhere.

VOL. 167 NO.