October 1, 2015

Strata Pathology Laboratory, Inc. (known as StrataDx) agreed to pay $558,793 to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by inducing physicians to refer Medicare and Medicaid patients to Strata by paying kickbacks in the form of sham consulting fees and providing unlawful discounts to physicians.  According to the settlement agreement, Strata acknowledged paying consulting fees to two referring physician practices that did not provide consulting services in exchange.  Strata also acknowledged entering into “account billing” arrangements with seven referring physician practices that facilitated fee-splitting between the parties.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former Strata employee under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  The whistleblower will receive a yet-to-be-determined whistleblower award from a portion of the government’s recovery.  DOJ (MA)

Tagged in: Anti-Kickback and Stark, FCA Federal, Laboratory and IDTF, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,