A physician and his two Plano, Texas, clinics have agreed to pay the federal government $20 million to resolve allegations that they billed a COVID-19 relief program for evaluation and management services that were never performed, the Justice Department announced.
Heal 360 Urgent Care PLLC, Heal 360 Primary Care PLLC and their owner, Dr. Mohammed Amer Mohiuddin, settled False Claims Act allegations involving a federal program that reimbursed providers for COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccines for uninsured patients. The program was administered by the Health Resources & Services Administration. The claims at issue date from Jan. 1, 2021, through March 23, 2022.
The government alleges the clinics operated dozens of COVID-19 testing sites in Texas under Mohiuddin’s oversight and direction, most of them walk-up or drive-through locations. Patients remained in their vehicles while staff checked them in and collected nasal swabs, and no other medical treatment was provided, according to the allegations.
During the public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved CPT Code 99211 for COVID-19 test specimen collection. Physicians and non-physician practitioners were required to use that code for specimen collection performed by clinical staff incident to their services, the department said.
The government alleges Heal 360 and Mohiuddin knew the services warranted specimen collection codes but instead submitted claims using higher-level...
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