Acting U.S. Attorney Shannon T. Hanson announced a settlement involving Jordona Ndon, a former nurse practitioner. Ndon, who previously worked in Delaware and now resides in Virginia, has agreed to a $50,000 payment to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The allegations involve Ndon ordering medically unnecessary orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries in Delaware. The settlement amount reflects Ndon's financial capacity.
The allegations stem from actions between November 2017 and June 2018, during which Ndon digitally signed numerous orders for orthotic braces. These braces were deemed medically unnecessary for Delaware residents whom she had never physically examined. Reports indicate that telemarketers, lacking medical qualifications, pre-filled the orders with Ndon signing them following brief telemedicine consultations, frequently lasting two minutes or less. These consultations reportedly lacked any legitimate medical justification for the braces.
"Providers who authorize medically unnecessary equipment undermine our health care system and waste valuable taxpayer dollars," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Hanson. Hanson emphasized the office's commitment to pursue those profiting from outsourced medical decision-making and holding them accountable.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. LaRosa and Affirmative Civil Enforcement Auditor David Cheung were responsible for handling this matter. This case highlights the government's focus on combating health care fraud, with the False Claims Act as a crucial tool in these efforts. The Department of Health and Human Services encourages reporting potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement at their hotline, 800 HHS TIPS.
The press release and details of the settlement agreement can be accessed on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware’s website. It is important to note that the claims resolved by this settlement are purely allegations, without any determination of liability.