Cardiology Group to Pay $4.75M to Settle Allegations of Unnecessary Vein Procedures
By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team
On March 12, an Arizona-based physician group Tri-City Cardiology, P.C. and three physicians agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein procedures. [1]
What Does the Civil Settlement Address?
The civil settlement resolves claims that from January 1, 2017, through April 27, 2022, Dr. Jaskamal Kahlon, Dr. Joshua D. Cohen, and Dr. M. Joshua Berkowitz knowingly performed ablations on perforator veins that did not qualify for treatment. Perforator veins, which connect deep and superficial leg veins, should only be treated under specific conditions.[2]
The United States alleges that Tri-City and the physicians deliberately mismeasured or incorrectly documented the duration of outward blood flow, vein diameter, patient symptoms, and conservative therapy measures in medical records, creating the false impression that the ablations were medically justified.[3]
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said: “Physicians should not prioritize profit over patient needs. Medicare and other federal programs pay only for medical care that meets accepted standards, and the falsification of medical records undermines efforts to assess whether medical care was appropriate.”[4]
What Role Can Whistleblowers Play in Fighting Healthcare Fraud?
While it is unknown if whistleblowers were involved in initiating this case, whistleblowers are often instrumental in reporting fraud in healthcare. Insiders are often the ones to come forward with valuable information and can receive up to 30% of any monetary recovery as a whistleblower reward.
Constantine Cannon partner Marlene Koury commented, “Government healthcare programs rely on sound clinical judgment and accurate documentation. When providers falsify medical records to support unnecessary procedures, they undermine patient trust and waste taxpayer funds.”
As we covered the DOJ’s 2025 roundup of False Claims Act recoveries, the government continues to go after healthcare fraud. Out of the record-breaking $6.9 billion the government recovered from False Claims Act matters in 2025, $5.7 billion came from matters involving healthcare-related fraud.
Types of Healthcare Fraud
Billing for medically unnecessary services is just one example of healthcare fraud.
As seen in this case, billing the government for healthcare services, supplies, or equipment that are not medically reasonable or necessary can violate the False Claims Act. Government-funded healthcare programs will only cover services, supplies, or equipment that are deemed reasonable and necessary for diagnosing or treating an illness or injury.
Constantine Cannon Represents Whistleblowers
Our firm has significant experience representing whistleblowers under the False Claims Act. If you believe you have a case or would like to learn more about what it means to be a whistleblower under the False Claims Act, please contact us. We will connect you with a member of our whistleblower team for a free and confidential consultation.
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Sources:
[1] See https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/arizona-cardiology-group-pay-475m-resolve-allegations-unnecessary-vein-ablations
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
Tagged in: False Claims Act, Healthcare Fraud,