Citizens Medical Center Settles False Claims for $21.75M; Whistleblowers to Get $5.9M

Texas-based Citizens Medical Center has agreed to pay the U.S. federal government $21.75 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by engaging in improper financial relationships with referring physicians, the U.S. Department of Justice announced last week.

The settlement resolved allegations that the hospital provided compensation to several cardiologists that exceeded the fair market value of their services.  The settlement also resolved allegations that the hospital paid bonuses to emergency room physicians that improperly took into account the value of their cardiology referrals.  The United States contended that these agreements violated the Stark Statute and the False Claims Act.  The Stark Statute restricts the financial relationships that hospitals may have with doctors who refer patients to them.

The allegations settled today arose from a lawsuit filed by three whistleblowers, Dakshesh “Kumar” Parikh, Harish Chandna and Ajay Gaalla, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  Under the act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the government for false claims and share in any recovery.  The whistleblowers will collectively receive $5,981,250 from the recoveries announced today.

The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments.  We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who expose every kind of fraud against the government, including health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud.  Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.