Pensacola, FL – The United States has initiated legal action under the False Claims Act (FCA) against Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, LLC; Chipley Physical Therapy, LLC; and individuals Ruben and Lorrie Laurel, as announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin. The lawsuit alleges fraudulent billing practices, claiming that the Defendants improperly billed the government for services purportedly provided by Lorrie Laurel, a physical therapist, while she was traveling abroad.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, accuses the Defendants of submitting false claims for payment from July 2019 to March 2024. Specifically, it alleges that 613 claims were made for services Lorrie Laurel was said to have performed at Chipley Physical Therapy (CPT) while she was actually on cruises to Mexico, Jamaica, Aruba, and the Bahamas.
Chipley Physical Therapy, owned and operated by Ruben and Lorrie Laurel, offers outpatient physical and aquatic therapy services across the Florida Panhandle, including locations in Chipley, Marianna, and Bonifay. Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, a billing company, is also owned by Ruben Laurel.
U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the government’s dedication to combating healthcare fraud, stating, “This lawsuit demonstrates our firm commitment to hold healthcare providers accountable for fraudulent billing and fulfills the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to aggressively root out fraud, waste, and abuse. Healthcare providers who are fraudulently charging the federal government for medical services not rendered will be vigorously pursued by our office.”
The case, captioned United States ex rel. Ariel Bowen v. Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, LLC, et al., is identified as Case No. 5:21-cv-236-TKW-MJF (N.D. Fla.). The investigation received substantial support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle for the Northern District of Florida.
It’s important to note that the claims made against the defendants are currently unproven allegations, and there has been no determination of liability. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida operates as one of the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. Public court documents related to this case are accessible via the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
Updated information about this case as well as related FCA matters can provide additional context for those interested in the ongoing work of the Department of Justice in addressing fraudulent practices.
