Tri-Area Community Health has agreed on Apr. 27 to pay $513,729.90 to the United States in order to resolve allegations of improper Medicare billing for Annual Wellness Visits. The health center, located in Laurel Pike, Virginia, had already repaid $321,075.56 as part of the settlement.
The issue centers on services provided between August 2022 and December 2025 at Tri-Area Community Health’s six clinics in the Western District of Virginia. According to federal authorities, pharmacists conducted Annual Wellness Visits for Medicare beneficiaries without physician oversight or presence—either physically or virtually—and billed these visits under physicians’ names who were not involved with the appointments. The organization cooperated with investigators and helped identify claims that had been improperly reimbursed.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General announced the resolution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Howells led the investigation with support from HHS-OIG.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia handles federal prosecutions and civil litigation for the government and is part of the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website. The office promotes public safety through crime prevention initiatives and community outreach programs according to its official website. It operates offices in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Abingdon, Lynchburg, Danville and Harrisonburg according to its official website.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office partners with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across western Virginia according to its official website. These efforts aim at improving public safety throughout the region by prosecuting federal crimes as well as handling civil litigation on behalf of the United States government according to its official website.
Authorities said that all claims resolved by this settlement are only allegations; there has been no determination of liability.
