EL PASO, Texas — John Patterson, M.D., a physician in El Paso, has agreed to pay $468,626 to resolve allegations of receiving kickbacks to falsely certify patients for hospice services, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The United States alleged that Dr. Patterson received kickbacks from Nursemind Home Care Inc., a hospice care center in El Paso, to certify patients as eligible for hospice services when they were not, leading to false claims submitted to federal healthcare programs. "My office will hold providers accountable, both through the civil and criminal process, when they attempt to defraud federal healthcare programs and the American taxpayer," said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas.
Dr. Patterson received cooperation credit under the settlement terms by agreeing to cooperate with an ongoing criminal investigation and testify truthfully in any resulting prosecutions. The investigation also led to the criminal prosecution of Zenia Chavez, owner of Nursemind Home Care, Inc., who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit illegal remunerations regarding a federal health care program.
"Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute waste valuable federal health care program funds and corrupt the medical decision-making process," said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. "The emotional toll it takes on Medicare recipients and their families to be...
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