A cardiology practice in Florida and several of its cardiologists have agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and committed fraud. As a part of the agreement, there has been no determination of liability, Cardiovascular Business reports.
Orlando-based Florida Cardiology, P.A., includes a team of 15 cardiologists who work out of 10 different locations throughout the greater Orlando area. The practice’s cardiologists specialize in both invasive and noninvasive treatment options, and they work closely with several health systems in the area.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Florida Cardiology and 10 of its cardiologists allegedly violated the False Claims Act by submitting “inflated claims” to both Medicare and Medicaid. Specific examples of the alleged fraud included billing for more intravascular stents than were inserted into the patient, billing for radiofrequency ablations that were performed by a completely different physician and billing for certain services while the cardiologist in question was located outside of the United States.
In addition to Medicare and Medicaid, these false claims were also allegedly submitted to TRICARE and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. Read more.
