Michigan Health Care Provider to Pay United States $669,413 to Settle False Claims Allegations
- January 12, 2010 by Qui Tam
- Federal False Claims Act, Healthcare
Genesys Health System, a Michigan-based health care service provider, has agreed to pay the United States $669,413.00 to settle allegations that it submitted false claims to Medicare. Specifically, a whistleblower’s qui tam suit alleged that from 2001 through 2007, Genesys repeatedly billed Medicare for higher levels of service than were actually provided to the company’s cardiology patients. For bringing Genesys’s alleged fraud to light, the whistleblower will receive a $133,882.00 share of the settlement.
In light of the rising costs of health care, and in particular the increasing pressure being placed on the Medicare Trust Fund, the federal government is eager to stamp out fraud and abuse aimed at exploiting the Medicare program. As Tony Berg, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, noted, “this case demonstrates we are committed to vigorously pursuing those who defraud Medicare.”
More information can be found at: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/December/09-civ-1384.html