Medicare Fraud Case Proceeds Against Citizens Medical Center

The lawsuit against Citizens Medical Center (Citizens), filed by Drs. Dakshesh Parikh, Harish Chandna, and Ajay Gaala, is moving forward after a federal judge denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the case.  The doctors allege that Citizens violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting or causing the submission of false claims to federal health care programs (Medicare and Medicaid).

Citizens allegedly entered into improper financial relationships with and gave kickbacks to physicians in order to induce them to refer patients to the hospital, which is a violation of the Stark Law.  The doctors also allege that Citizens knowingly provided unnecessary or worthless medical services in order to increase its revenue, and that this was all part of a conspiracy to violate the False Claims Act.

Drs. Parikh, Chandna, and Gaala were former cardiologists at Citizens, and claim that they were retaliated against for refusing to participate in the above schemes.  They filed this suit under the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to sue on behalf of the government and share in the recovery.

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.