NEWARK, N.J. – A Texas doctor and his office manager, who was also his wife, have agreed to pay more than $422,789 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they received illegal kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Vijesh Patel and his wife, Laju Patel, both of Port Neches, Texas, have agreed to pay $422,789 to resolve allegations that they received kickbacks in return for referring patients for laboratory testing. Both have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes.
“Patients deserve to know that the decisions their health care providers are making are based solely on their medical needs, not on some profit-making scheme,” U.S Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey said. “Our office will continue to pursue anyone responsible for actions that have the potential to corrupt the medical decision-making process.”
“Kickbacks can undermine a physician’s medical judgment, result in unnecessary testing, and increase healthcare costs borne by taxpayers,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said. “We will continue to pursue physicians, laboratories, and others responsible for schemes that violate rules intended to safeguard the integrity of federal healthcare programs.”
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying,...
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