A Florida neurologist has agreed to pay the federal government $150,000 to settle allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by providing medically unnecessary services to federal healthcare program beneficiaries, according to the Department of Justice.
The neurologist, Sean Orr, MD, was formerly employed by Baptist Neurology and Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla. The government alleged Dr. Orr knowingly misdiagnosed certain patients with various neurological disorders from September 2009 to April 2012.
Baptist Health System — the parent company of Baptist Neurology and Baptist Medical Center — paid $2.5 million in 2014 to settle similar allegations, according to the DOJ.
The government's investigation into Dr. Orr was initiated by a qui tam, or whistle-blower, lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act by Verchetta Wells, a former Baptist Neurology employee.
Although Dr. Orr has agreed to this settlement, there has been no determination of wrongdoing in the case.
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