The settlement resolves allegations that Vanguard-owned Arizona Heart Institute in Phoenix submitted false claims to the Medicare program by knowingly paying certain physicians salaries and bonuses that were above fair market value and in violation of the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
The settlement also resolves allegations that AHI physicians upcoded billing for evaluation and management patient visits in order to be paid more than the allowable amount for the services provided, according to the DOJ.
The lawsuit was originally brought under the qui tam, or whistle-blower, provision of the False Claims Act.
Although Vanguard has agreed to this settlement, there has been no determination of liability in this matter.
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