ATLANTA - An Atlanta-based urology practice and its owner will pay $14 million to settle federal allegations of widespread healthcare fraud and performing medically unnecessary procedures on patients.
What we know:
Advanced Urology, Inc. and Dr. Jitesh Patel settled claims they violated the False Claims Act by billing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid for services that were either unnecessary or never performed. The government's investigation began after two whistle-blowers ,a former employee and a former physician, filed complaints. The allegations included "upcoding" less complicated procedures to more expensive ones and ordering thousands of unnecessary ultrasounds.
What we don't know:
While the $14 million settlement has been reached, the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted these are allegations only and there has been no formal determination of liability.
It is also unclear if any patients suffered long-term physical harm from the procedures mentioned in the lawsuits, such as unnecessary electrical signal tests or bladder scopes.
By the numbers:
The settlement involves a $14 million total payment to the government. From that amount, the two whistleblowers will collectively receive $2,940,000. The legal action combined two separate lawsuits filed in 2018 and 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
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