“The rules are simple: bill government health programs only for services actually needed and provided. No more, no less,” said Shimon R. Richmond, special agent in charge for the office of inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We will continue to protect federal health care programs and beneficiaries by holding providers accountable.”
Doctors Policing Their Own
The Dermatology Healthcare settlement resulted from a coordinated federal law enforcement effort between the U.S. attorney’s office for the Middle District of Florida, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services office of inspector general, and the Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The settlement concludes a lawsuit originally filed in the United States district court for the Middle District of Florida by Theodore Schiff, a dermatologist from Palm Beach County, Florida. Schiff filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under these provisions, a private citizen may sue on behalf of the United States for false claims.
