CHARLESTON, W.V. -- A Kanawha County non-profit corporation is alleging that two for-profit entities intentionally interfered with the public bidding process and its state Medicare contract.
The West Virginia Medical Institute filed suit against KEPRO Acquisitions, Inc.; and Innovative Resource Group, LLC, which does business as APS Healthcare Midwest, on Aug. 25. Also named in the suit filed in the Circuit Court of Kanawha were the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources along with the state's purchasing division.
The plaintiff alleges in the suit that KEPRO, through the purchase of APS, is trying to squeeze it of the final months of a six-year Medicaid contract with West Virginia, while also poaching key employees in an effort to prevent the institute from bidding on an upcoming public Medicare contract with the state.
The institute is seeking an injunction against the defendants, plus compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees. The plaintiff is represented by Corte P. Goodwin of Goodwin & Goodwin, LLP in Charleston, West Virginia. Judge Louis "Duke" Bloom is presiding.
Circuit Court of Kanawha,West Virginia case no. 15-c-1615.