April 21, 2015

Family Dermatology P.C., which owns and operates a dermatopathology lab in Georgia and several dermatology practices throughout the Eastern United States, agreed to pay $3,247,835 to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act and the Stark Statute by engaging in improper financial relationships with a number of its employed physicians.  According to the government, Family Dermatology routinely required its dermatologists to use Family Dermatology’s in-house pathology lab, which operated under the name Nelson Dermatopathology, for their pathology services.  The allegations first arose in three whistleblower lawsuits filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Scott M. Ross MD, Mark F. Baucom and Harold Milstein MD.  They will collectively receive a whistleblower award of more than $584,000.  DOJ

Tagged in: Anti-Kickback and Stark, FCA Federal, Provider Fraud, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,