August 31, 2016

Clear Vue Eye Center and its owner, Dr. Monique Barbour, agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by overbilling Medicare for patient visits at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and for billing for procedures purportedly performed while Dr. Barbour was out of the country.  According to the government, Dr. Barbour billed excessively for patient visits, billing for more than 12 hours a day and often for more than 20 hours in a 24-hour period.  Records reviews show that many of the procedures billed were medically unnecessary with little patient benefit and that Dr. Barbour billed procedures at the most profitable rates regardless of the procedure’s proper billing code.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former Clear Vue employee Lori Moore under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  She will receive a whistleblower award of $200,000 from the proceeds of the government’s recovery.  DOJ (SDFL)

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Medical Billing Fraud, Medicare, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,