BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Maryland OB/GYN has agreed to pay over half a million dollars to settle federal allegations that she helped fuel a telemarketing scheme that led to fraudulent prescriptions billed to Medicare and TRICARE, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Officials say that Valinda R. Nwadike, MD, agreed to pay the United States $507,500 to resolve allegations connected to violations of the federal False Claims Act.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the settlement with Maureen Dixon, special agent in charge for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Allison Russo of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
According to officials, in April 2023, the United States filed a complaint against Nwadike alleging she violated the False Claims Act. The government contends that from Nov. 1, 2014, through Jan. 1, 2018, Nwadike created and signed thousands of fraudulent prescriptions for compounded drugs and durable medical equipment, including knee braces, that TRICARE and Medicare ultimately paid for.
The government also alleges Nwadike wrote and signed prescriptions after a cursory phone call with a patient, without physically examining the patient or reviewing the patient’s medical history. As a result, the United States alleges it paid for thousands of medically unnecessary prescriptions for compounded creams and...
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