BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A total of 16 cardiology practices have agreed to pay a total of nearly $17.7 million to resolve allegations that they each violated the False Claims Act, including a practice in Warren County.
The United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky provided a release Friday stating the government alleges that the settling cardiology practices regularly reported inflated acquisition costs to Medicare for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.
According to officials, these drugs are used to diagnose and sometimes treat some cancers and diseases. In multiple states, officials say Medicare Part B reimburses healthcare providers for these drugs based on a provider’s acquisition cost.
In those areas, the release says Medicare’s contractors have published guidance on reimbursement and providers’ obligation to “accurately report their invoice costs for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.”
Officials say the inflated acquisition costs reported occurred for at least a year, and in some cases, the conduct extended over a period of more than a decade.
The settling medical practices and associated physicians have agreed to pay the following amounts, according to the release:
- Western Kentucky Heart & Lung Associates PSC and Mohammed Kazimuddin ($6,750,000)
- Heart Clinic of Paris P.A. and Arjumand Hashmi ($2,600,000)
- Scranton Cardiovascular Physician Services LLC ($2,369,111)
- Shannon Clinic ($996,856)
- Edward W. Leahey M.D. Professional Association and Edward Leahey ($894,679)
- Metropolitan Cardiovascular Consultants LLC and Ayim Djamson ($846,888)
- Cardiology Center of New Jersey LLC, Mario Criscito, Frank Iacovone, and Sameer Kaul ($740,000)
- Clovis Cardiology Associates LLC and Mahamadu Fuseini ($600,000)
- Family Medical Specialty Clinic PLLC, Melecio Abordo, and June Abadilla ($409,594)
- James R. Higgins M.D. Inc. and James Higgins ($395,537)
- TrustCare Health LLC ($279,407)
- Taj Medical Inc. ($240,000)
- White River Diagnostic Clinic PLC, Margaret Kuykendall, and Seth Barnes ($234,490)
- Veinguard Heart & Vascular Center P.C. and Fareeha Khan ($195,000)
- Boulder Medical Center PC ($160,000)
- Wellspring Cardiac Care P.A. ($50,000)
News 40 will provide additional information as it becomes available.
