The U.S. government recently filed a lawsuit against a Florida cardiologist alleging Medicare billing for unnecessary treatments and paying patients by waiving copayments.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Jan. 5 against Florida cardiologist Dr. Asad Qamar and his physician group, the Institute for Cardiovascular Excellence PLLC (ICE).
The Justice Department alleges Qamar and ICE billed Medicare for medically unnecessary peripheral artery interventions and paid kickbacks to patients by waiving Medicare copayments.
"Performing medically unnecessary procedures puts patients at risk and contributes to the soaring costs of health care,” Joyce Branda, acting Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department, said. "Today’s action evidences the Department of Justice’s efforts, both to safeguard federal health care program beneficiaries and to protect public funds."
The lawsuits were filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, the Justice Deparment Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida filed the lawsuits.