University Of Maryland Shore Regional Health Agrees to Pay $296,870 to Settle Federal False Claims Act Allegations of Billing for Unsupervised Radiation Therapy and Diagnostic Services

Baltimore, Maryland – The College of Maryland Shore Regional Well being in Easton, Maryland (“Shore Well being”), has agreed to pay the US $296,870 to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the US for radiation remedy and diagnostic companies that lacked the required supervision from a doctor.  

The civil settlement was introduced by United States Legal professional for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and by Particular Agent in Cost Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers-Workplace of Inspector Basic.

“It’s crucial that Medicare and different federal well being care packages are shielded from fraud as a result of these packages are funded by taxpayer {dollars},” mentioned United States Legal professional Erek L. Barron.  “The USA Legal professional’s Workplace will maintain accountable these suppliers who defraud federal well being care packages.”

“Suppliers who submit false claims to Medicare are undermining the integrity of federal well being care packages,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost Maureen Dixon, on the Division of Well being and Human Providers, Workplace of Inspector Basic (HHS-OIG).  “HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our legislation enforcement companions to guard precious taxpayer {dollars} from fraud.”

Shore Well being is part of the College of Maryland Medical System and primarily serves the wants of Maryland residents in Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Kent counties.  In accordance with the settlement settlement, from January 16, 2014 by July 5, 2018, Shore Well being billed Medicare for radiation remedy and diagnostic companies.  Throughout this time interval, Medicare lined radiation remedy and diagnostic companies furnished in an outpatient setting when rendered beneath the direct supervision of a doctor.  “Direct supervision” signifies that the doctor should be instantly accessible to furnish help and path all through the efficiency of the process.  It doesn’t imply that the doctor should be current within the room when the process is carried out.  In any respect related occasions, Shore Well being had just one doctor, John Mastandrea, M.D., accessible to oversee radiation remedy and diagnostic companies.  This settlement resolves allegations that on many events, Dr. Mastandrea was performing uninterruptible radiation oncology companies at a separate location whereas unsupervised radiation remedy and diagnostic companies had been being carried out at Shore Well being.  

This matter arose from a lawsuit filed by J. Phillip Sawyer, a former worker of Shore Well being, beneath the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act.  The False Claims Act permits personal events to file swimsuit on behalf of the US for false claims and acquire a portion of the federal government’s restoration.  The civil lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. John Phillip Sawyer v. Shore Well being System and John Mastandrea, 18-cv-02228-JKB (D. Md).  As a part of the settlement, Mr. Sawyer will obtain $51,952. 

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations.  The settlement isn’t an admission of legal responsibility by Shore Well being nor a concession by the US that its claims usually are not effectively based.   

United States Legal professional Erek L. Barron recommended the HHS-OIG for his or her work on this investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Legal professional Vince Vaccarella, who dealt with this case.

For extra data on the Maryland U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, its priorities, and sources accessible to report fraud, please go to www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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