A Frederick-based oncology practice and its owner have agreed to pay $1.45 million to resolve allegations that they submitted fraudulent claims to federal and state healthcare programs.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Progressive Oncology & Hematology, LLC and its owner and sole provider, Dr. Mouhamad Bazzi, agreed to settle allegations under the False Claims Act involving reimbursement claims submitted to Medicare, Medicaid and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The government alleges the practice knowingly sought reimbursement for chemotherapy drugs that it did not purchase, including medications provided at no cost through charitable organizations or patient grant programs. Authorities also allege the practice split medication from single-use vials among multiple patients while billing as though each patient received a separate vial, and submitted claims for chemotherapy drugs that were prescribed but never administered.
“Seeking reimbursement for chemotherapy drugs that were not paid for or not administered by the practice or this doctor is simply intolerable,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. “This settlement reflects this office’s commitment to holding wrongdoers accountable who attempt to profit at the expense of the public fisc.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the U.S....
A Frederick-based oncology practice and its owner have agreed to pay $1.45 million to resolve allegations that they submitted fraudulent claims to federal and state healthcare programs. According ...