Florin Gray Clients Part of $32 Million False Claims Act Settlement Involving Oglethorpe Inc. and Top Executives
May 28, 2026 – Florin Gray is pleased to announce that the United States has settled a False Claims Act case alleging that Oglethorpe Inc., an operator of psychiatric hospitals headquartered in Tampa, Florida, along with its founder and several executives, violated the False Claims Act. The case was brought by two of Florin Gray’s clients, Jeanette Skinner and Joel Snook, along with other whistleblowers.
Under the terms of the government settlement, the defendants collectively will pay $32 million to resolve allegations that they knowingly failed to return overpayments received from the Medicare program for the admission of beneficiaries to three of Oglethorpe’s Ohio facilities.
Government’s Allegations of Failure to Return Medicare Overpayments
The settlement resolves allegations that, from 2021 through the present, Oglethorpe and its executives knowingly failed to return to Medicare overpayments that Oglethorpe’s own consultants had identified. The overpayments related to beneficiaries who had been admitted to several Oglethorpe hospitals even though they did not qualify for inpatient psychiatric care. Oglethorpe’s failure to return the overpayments, which were identified in a subsequent audit, violated applicable federal law and the terms of a Corporate Integrity Agreement that Oglethorpe previously entered into with the United States.
Top Executives and Company Held Accountable
Critical in this settlement was the provision holding Oglethorpe’s founder and principal owner Robert Cohen, Chief Executive Officer John Picciano, and Chief Operating Officer James O’Shea personally accountable for the FCA violations. In addition, as a result of violating a prior Corporate Integrity Agreement entered into with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) following an earlier False Claims Act settlement, the defendants agreed to a voluntary exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid, and all federal health care programs for a period of 10 years beginning in July 2026.
Government Emphasizes Importance of Accountability in Healthcare
In the press release announcing the settlement, government officials emphasized the importance of protecting taxpayer funds and enforcing Corporate Integrity Agreements:
“Healthcare fraud has negative impacts for taxpayers and patients alike,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reflects the Department’s commitment to protecting taxpayer money and ensuring that Medicare payments are consistent with the coverage and payment rules for those services.”
“By enforcing the Corporate Integrity Agreement and securing a voluntary exclusion agreement the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs,” said Chief Counsel Susan Edwards of HHS-OIG. “When entities fail to meet their obligations — especially after entering agreements designed to ensure compliance — we will take decisive action. This outcome underscores that accountability is essential to safeguarding both patients and taxpayer resources.”
Florin Gray Applauds Client Contributions and Government Efforts
Florin Gray commends the outstanding efforts of its clients Jeanette Skinner, former Regional Director of Operations, and Joel Snook, former Director of Financial Operations, as well as the government prosecutors who handled the matter.
“We were proud to represent Jeanette Skinner and Joel Snook, who courageously came forward with insider knowledge of Oglethorpe’s fraudulent practices and failure to comply with the terms of its Corporate Integrity Agreement. Their actions helped recover $32 million for taxpayers and ensured accountability for Oglethorpe, a healthcare provider that has repeatedly violated federal rules,” said Scott Terry a Florin Gray attorney.
Florin Gray devotes a large part of its practice to representing whistleblowers in False Claims Act and qui tam cases. For more information about the firm and its False Claims Act practice, please contact Scott Terry at scott@floringray.com.
