U.S. authorities have announced that an imaging center in Delaware will pay $16.2 million for submitting false claims for Medicare reimbursement for MRI contrast studies that weren't supervised by physicians.
Orthopaedic and Neuro Imaging (ONI), which operates imaging centers in Delaware and Maryland, was charged with submitting claims for MRI contrast injections without proper physician supervision, as required by Medicare rules. A lawsuit against the firm was originally filed by Robin White, a former employee, under provisions of the U.S. False Claims Act that enable private citizens to file suit on behalf of the U.S. government and receive a portion of any recovery money.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware entered a judgment of $16.2 million against ONI and its owner, Richard Pfarr. White is eligible to receive 18% of the funds under the terms of the False Claims Act.
