Whistleblower News From The Inside -- May 14, 2018

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

Ohio hospital pays $14.25M to settle FCA allegations – Mercy Health has settled allegations that it engaged in improper financial relationships with referring physicians. The settlement involved six doctors whose compensation exceeded fair market value for their services, which is prohibited by federal law. The settlement is a result of a self-disclosure. DOJ

New Jersey doctor sentenced to two years in prison over bribery – Ralph Messo, who had previously pleaded guilty and admitted accepting bribes in exchange for test referrals, has been sentenced to two years in prison. Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services paid Messo approximately $3k a month; his referrals generated over $800k in business for the lab. Messo’s actions were revealed in a larger investigation of Biodiagnostic. That investigation has resulted in 53 convictions and $13M in asset forfeiture. The company is now out of business. USAO New Jersey

Georgia medical assistant settles FCA allegations – Robert Gennaro, who allegedly impersonated a physician when providing remote surgical monitoring services, has accepted a 10 year exclusion from all federal healthcare programs to settle his FCA allegations. Any practice that employs Gennaro would also be barred from receiving any payment from a federal healthcare program. The physician Gennaro impersonated, Robert Windsor, was previously sentenced to three years in prison. The fraud was brought to light by a whistleblower. USAO Northern District of Georgia