A group of orthopedic and anesthesia providers agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle allegations of false Medicaid claims for prescriptions purchased outside the U.S. and without FDA approval.
Here are five points.
1. Georgia Bone & Joint, Summit Orthopaedic Surgery Center, Southern Crescent Anesthesiology, Sentry Anesthesia Management and David LaGuardia, all in Newnan, Ga., were involved in the settlement.
2. Investigators alleged Mr. LaGuardia, Sentry and Southern Crescent provided Summit Surgery Center a medical director. In turn, Summit Surgery Center performed more procedures at the surgery center than at Georgia Bone & Joint's office.
3. Mr. LaGuardia submitted false Medicaid claims to Medicare for prescription drugs purchased outside of the U.S. and not approved by the FDA.
4. The claims were settled as allegations only, no decisions have been made on liability.
5. “Decisions on where and how patients’ medical procedures are performed should never be made based on thinly veiled bribes, as was alleged in this matter,” said Derrick Jackson, special agent in charge for the Office of Inspector General of HHS. “Such alleged schemes will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”