* DoJ seeks documents on claims submitted to Medicare
* Amedisys says intends to cooperate with DoJ
* Gentiva, LHC, Almost Family shares down (Recasts, adds analyst comment, updates share movement)
By Suzannah Benjamin
BANGALORE, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Shares of U.S. home healthcare companies fell Tuesday after Amedisys Inc (AMED.O), which is being investigated by regulators over its billing practices, said the Department of Justice asked for information on claims it submitted to Medicare.
Amedisys shares fell 17 percent, while Gentiva Health Services Inc (GTIV.O), LHC Group Inc (LHCG.O) and Almost Family Inc (AFAM.O) were down about 4 percent.
In a civil investigative demand issued under the False Claims Act, the DoJ sought documents related to reimbursement and billing claims, Amedisys said in a statement.
In May, a U.S. Senate Finance Committee had launched an investigation over billing practices that it said raised questions about reimbursement from the Medicare insurance program. [ID:nN13162384]
In a bipartisan letter to Amedisys, Gentiva, LHC and Almost Family, lawmakers had said it appeared the companies increased billing to help boost their profits.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had launched similar probes into the billing practices.
Civil investigation demands may be forthcoming for the other companies as well, given the reviews by the SEC and the Senate Committee, said Kevin Campbell, an analyst at Avondale Partners.
However, it is too early to know if the DoJ request is related to the regulatory reviews of the industry, he said.
The DoJ demand covers the period from Jan. 1, 2003 through the present, Amedisys said, adding that it is cooperating with the department.
The DoJ's demand could impact Amedisys' volumes in the home health business, Sheryl Skolnick, an analyst with CRT Capital Group said. It may hit admissions as well, she said. (Editing by Maju Samuel and Vinu Pilakkott)
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