Federal authorities say a California vascular practice and its physician agree to pay more than $6.73 million to resolve allegations that unnecessary interventional procedures were billed to Medicare. The settlement covers conduct alleged to have occurred from 2016 to 2024 and includes payments to both the U.S. government and the State of California.

Highlights

• Serrano Kidney & Vascular Access Center and Dr. Feliciano Serrano agreed to a $6.73 million False Claims Act settlement for allegedly billing Medicare for unnecessary vascular procedures from 2016 to 2024.
• The United States alleges Serrano performed unwarranted dialysis access and peripheral artery disease interventions on patients, documented false symptoms, overstated stenosis, and failed to follow medical standards.
• Lincoln Analytics Inc. will receive $976,000 as the whistleblower reward, reflecting ongoing Justice Department enforcement against healthcare fraud targeting federal programs.

Settlement terms and alleged billing conduct

As reported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Serrano Kidney & Vascular Access Center in Huntington Park, California, and Dr. Feliciano Serrano agree to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims for medically unnecessary vascular interventional procedures on 20 Medicare beneficiaries. The government says the matter is settled under the False Claims Act for more than $6.73 million.

The United States alleges that from 2016 to 2024, Serrano performed medically...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxNM0wyZ3MyaGFTUGtyNlVtalMx...