A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

A Hyannis, Massachusetts, doctor has paid $1.9 million to resolve claims by the government that he submitted fraudulent billings to the Medicare program.

U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and Joseph Moraski, special agent in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), Office of Investigations, reported that the U.S. has settled civil claims against Philip Chiotellis, MD, and his practice, Cardiac Rehabilitation, under the False Claims Act.

Based on its investigation, the U.S. alleged that Chiotellis had overbilled Medicare from 1995 through 2001 for thousands of cardiac rehabilitation services that were performed, but billed to the Medicare program as cardiovascular stress tests. Reimbursement rates for cardiovascular stress tests are significantly higher than rates for cardiac rehabilitation services. As a Medicare provider, Chiotellis has "a legal duty to familiarize himself with Medicare's coding and reimbursement rules," the government said.

"This case demonstrates our continued commitment to the preservation of the Medicare Trust Fund," said Sullivan. "We will continue to hold accountable all unscrupulous healthcare providers who enrich themselves at the expense of government healthcare programs."

Chiotellis also has entered into an Integrity Agreement with the HHS OIG in order that, among other things, his compliance with the Medicare billing guidelines can be monitored.