An ophthalmology practice in Hillsborough County has agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle allegations it made false claims for medically unnecessary ultrasounds.
Brandon Eye Associates — which has locations in Sun City, Brandon and Plant City — was accused of violating the False Claims Act and an analogous Florida statute arising from its billing for transcranial doppler ultrasounds (TCDs) provided through a kickback arrangement with a third party, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
To resolve the allegations, Brandon Eye Associates will pay $1,210,245.70 to the United States and $89,754.30 to the state of Florida for its share of Medicaid, a jointly funded federal and state program. While the company has agreed to pay the settlement, there has been no determination of liability, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Through an agreement, Brandon Eye Associates and a third-party provider of turnkey mobile TCD services performed the ultrasounds on Brandon Eye patients with common health conditions like diabetes, hypertension and glaucoma, authorities contended. Before the patients got their results, Brandon Eye Associates and the third-party provider identified them as having a serious diagnosis — most commonly occlusion and stenosis of their cerebral arteries — that could qualify the patients for Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement of a TCD, the statement says. However, nearly all patients who received the TCDs never had occlusion and...
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