Labs to pay $8.5M in false billing settlement

Pharmasan Labs and  NeuroScience, both based in Osceola, Wis., and two executives, Gottfried Kellermann and Mieke Kellermann, have agreed to pay $8.5 million to the federal government to resolve False Claims Act allegations, according to the Department of Justice.

Advertisement

The lawsuit — filed by Pharmasan’s former billing manager Richard Forrest under the qui tam provisiona of the False Claims Act — claimed both companies submitted false information for laboratory services billed to Medicare, as well as violating rules pertaining to services referred by non-physician practitioners. 

According to the complaint, Pharmasan billed government healthcare programs for thousands of tests that did not meet federal and Medicaid guidelines for reimbursement because they were medically unnecessary, experimental or investigative. The lawsuit further alleges Pharmasan intentionally altered its billing codes to prevent detection.

More articles on legal and regulatory: 

Indiana physician who allegedly traded prescriptions for sex pleads guilty
Medi-Cal civil rights case one of the largest in decades
Home healthcare company owner indicted in $450k kickback scheme

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Advertisement

Next Up in Financial Management

Advertisement

Comments are closed.