Federal prosecutors say the physicians in the now-dissolved Mississippi medical group failed to return Medicare overpayments, but self-reported the infractions after an audit.
Jefferson Medical Associates, a now defunct multi-specialty medical practice group in Laurel, Mississippi and Aremmia Tanious, MD, will pay $817,635.06 to resolve claims under the False Claims Act arising from Medicare overpayments, the Department of Justice said.
According to federal prosecutors, from Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2014, Jefferson Medical Associates and Tanious failed to return Medicare overpayments.
In addition, from Feb. 1, 2013, through June 30, 2017, Jefferson Medical and Tanious allegedly billed Medicare using multiple medical codes when the medical documentation did not support the use of such billing practices.
Prosecutor said Jefferson Medical and Tanious cooperated with the investigation after they discovered through audits of patient files and claims data that Medicare had been overbilled for certain services.
"This settlement should serve as a reminder to medical providers receiving Medicare funds that they must timely report and return any overpayments owed to Medicare or be subject to liability under the False Claims Act," said Mike Hurst, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Jefferson Medical Associates and Aremmia Tanious, MD allegedly failed to return Medicare overpayments.
The physicians also allegedly billed Medicare using multiple medical codes that were not supported by medical documentation.
The physicians cooperated with federal investigators after the problems were discovered in an audit.