The Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad is working with the federal government to resolve a case where the agency is being sued by the department of Health and Human Services.

The lawsuit, Jeffery Batts, attorney for the squad, said primarily involves a period from 2004 to 2006 and alleged fraudulent activity concerning billing mainly involving the transport of dialysis patients.

Responding to emailed questions from rrspin.com, Batts said the rescue squad does not anticipate the lawsuit will affect its means or ability to do transports following resolution of the case.

“The government's complaint relates primarily to the period from 2004 to 2006. RVRS denies the government's allegations in the complaint, in particular those alleging any fraudulent activity,” Batts said. “In 2008, out of an abundance of caution, RVRS revised its training program, hired additional review staff and coordinated procedures with referring doctors to ensure no additional issues will arise.”

The complaint, Batts said, relates solely to a previous command. “The U.S. Attorney's Office has stated that they have no issues with the procedures utilized by RVRS under its current commander, Mark Collier, who has been in office since 2008. Mark Collier provides his services as commander for RVRS as an unpaid volunteer.”

The attorney said the disagreement concerns documentation related primarily to a portion of the dialysis transports. “RVRS contends that much of that documentation is correct as submitted. RVRS contends that the remaining documentation was submitted in reliance upon information provided by its billing company at the time, which RVRS believed to be in compliance with Medicare regulations.”

Progress has been made to resolve the case, Batts said. “We anticipate the matter can be resolved in the near term.”