Pak doctor to pay $750,000 to resolve case

WASHINGTON: Known Pakistani medical practitioner, Dr Mubashar Choudry, has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations against him, according to the US Department of Justice.

In a statement sent out by the Justice Department, Dr Choudry and three medical practices with which he is associated; Washington Cardiovascular Institute, Advanced Vascular Resources, and Washington Vascular Institute; have agreed to pay the United States $750,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they knowingly billed Medicare and Tricare for claims in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.

"Providing impermissible remuneration to induce patient referrals undermines government healthcare programmes," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Justice Department's Civil Division. "Patients are entitled to expect that the medical testing they receive and any resulting referral decision are free of financial inducements to the referring physician that may inappropriately impact the physician's judgment."

The AKS prohibits the knowing and willful payment of any remuneration to induce the referral of services or items that are paid for by a federal healthcare programme, such as Medicare and Tricare.

Claims submitted to these programmes in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute may give rise to liability under the False Claims Act.