July 27, 2016

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, together with the University of Pittsburgh Physicians, UPMC Community Medicine, Inc., and Tri-State Neurosurgical Associates-UPMC, Inc., agreed to pay roughly $2.5 million to settle charges they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare.  Specifically, the government alleged that certain neurosurgeons employed by UPMC submitted claims for assisting with or supervising surgical procedures performed by other surgeons, residents, fellows, or physician assistants, when those neurosurgeons did not participate in the relevant surgeries to the degree required.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  The whistleblowers will receive a yet-to-be-determined whistleblower award from the proceeds of the government’s recovery.  DOJ (WDPA)

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Improper Medical Personnel, Medicare, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,