Author name: Barrett Johnston Martin & Garrison, PLLC

Community Care Health Network LLC (business name Matrix Medical Network) and HealthFair founder Shahriah “James” Ekbatani have agreed to pay a combined $56.5 million to resolve allegations that they submitted false diagnosis codes to the Medicare Advantage program in violation of the False Claims Act. The government alleged that between 2014 and 2019, Matrix knowingly […]

Three South Florida men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in laundering more than $2.2 million in proceeds generated by a fraudulent durable medical equipment scheme that billed Medicare roughly $6.9 million for unnecessary orthotic braces. Marco Scamarone, 34, received a 70-month sentence, Jose Mendez, 34, received 78 months, and Renee Vazquez,

A group of laboratory executives, sales professionals, marketers, and a Texas physician have agreed to pay a combined total of more than $2 million to resolve civil allegations that they participated in an illegal scheme to pay doctors for laboratory referrals. The settlements, announced by the Department of Justice, center on allegations that the defendants

A federal jury in the Eastern District of New York has convicted a New York clinic manager for her role in an $8 million healthcare fraud conspiracy that exploited Medicare through a sophisticated kickback scheme involving ambulette drivers. According to evidence presented at trial, Olga Popovych, 43, managed several physical therapy clinics that paid cash

Two non-profit organizations have agreed to pay the federal government a combined total of more than $450,000 to resolve allegations that they obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were never eligible. The settlements, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, represent the latest enforcement actions under the False

A federal jury in Florida has convicted the owner of a healthcare software company for his role in a massive $1 billion Medicare fraud conspiracy involving fraudulent doctors’ orders, illegal kickbacks, and medically unnecessary durable medical equipment. According to the Department of Justice, Brett Blackman, founder and owner of HealthSplash and operator of the DMERx

Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. has agreed to pay approximately $13.6 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute by providing improper payments and benefits to healthcare providers to encourage prescriptions of the antidepressant Trintellix. According to the Department of Justice, federal investigators alleged that Takeda used paid speaker programs,

A California vascular practice and its physician owner have agreed to pay more than $6.73 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act involving medically unnecessary vascular procedures billed to Medicare. According to the Department of Justice, Serrano Kidney & Vascular Access Center and physician Dr. Feliciano Serrano allegedly performed excessive angioplasty, stent, and

Two Georgia men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a massive $522 million genetic testing fraud and kickback scheme that targeted Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. According to the Department of Justice, Reyad Salahaldeen received more than 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and

A California-based mobile PET scan provider has agreed to pay more than $8.33 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that it paid unlawful kickbacks to referring cardiologists in exchange for patient referrals. According to the Department of Justice, Modern Nuclear Inc. (MNI) allegedly paid physicians excessive supervision fees tied to PET scan