March 29, 2018

Georgia Bone & Joint, Southern Bone & Joint (a/k/a Summit Orthopaedic Surgery Center), Southern Crescent Anesthesiology, PC, Sentry Anesthesia Management, LLC, and David LaGuardia agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle claims they violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute. Specifically, the government alleged that LaGuardia, Sentry, and Southern Crescent provided a free medical director to Summit Surgery Center to induce it to choose to perform more procedures at the surgery center rather than in the Georgia Bone office. The government further alleged that Georgia Bone and LaGuardia caused the submission of false claims to Medicare for prescription drugs purchased outside the United States and not approved by the FDA. The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Sharon Kopko, former Practice Administrator for Southern Bone. She will receive a yet-to-be determined award from the proceeds of the government’s recovery. DOJ (NDGA)

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