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Florida radiology practice to pay over $500,000 to settle False Claims Act allegations

by John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | September 30, 2020
Insurance
Advanced Imaging of Port Charlotte will pay more than $500,000 to settle false claims brought against it
Advanced Imaging of Port Charlotte in Florida will pay $501,000 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and Tricare.

The United States, as part of the settlement, asserts that Advanced Imaging knowingly provided claims by administering dye-contrast scans without direct physician supervision as required under Federal regulations and improperly billed for services performed by physicians who were not properly credentialed by Medicare.

“This settlement reflects our continuing efforts to protect our military and their families, our community, and the taxpayers by ensuring that the care provided to beneficiaries of government-funded healthcare programs is consistent with federal regulations,” said United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez in a statement. “We will continue to hold healthcare providers accountable when they provide services by individuals who are not credentialed, licensed, or appropriately supervised.”

The False Claims Act prevents individuals and companies from defrauding the government, and allows individuals with information on false claims or overcharges to come forward. Federal and state laws prohibit any kind of payments, including for marketing purposes and consulting, from being used to influence which medical devices physicians choose to use.

Piedmont Healthcare in Georgia recently settled False Claims Act allegations made against it, in which it was accused of improperly billing for cardiac and vascular short-stay admissions and for engaging in certain physician compensation arrangements that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute.

The investigation into the allegations made against Advanced Imaging was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sullivan and was a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, DCIS, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. The civil settlement resolves the following captioned cases: United States, et al. v. KMH Cardiology Centres, Inc., et al., 2:16-cv-618-TPB-MRM, and United States of America, et al. v. SAVN Administrative Services, Inc., et al., 2:16-cv-622-SPC-MRM.

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