False Claims filed with Medicare for urine drug tests that were not performed,

ATHENS, Ga. –A $5,000,000 civil settlement has been reached with Mark A. Ellis, M.D., and his practice, Ellis Pain Center (EPC), a pain management practice in the Athens area. Part of the civil settlement includes EPC’s practice manager, Patsy Allen.

The case that was resolved by this settlement agreement—U.S. v. Mark A. Ellis, M.D., Patsy Allen, Mark A. Ellis, M.D., P.C., and Ellis Practice Management, LLC, 3:19-cv-107—was filed on Nov. 27, 2019. The settlement was finalized on Friday, March 17, 2023.

The defendants agreed to pay $5,000,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting bills to the Medicare program for urine drug tests that were not performed, urine drug tests that were not medically necessary and for diagnostic tests that were not medically necessary for the treatment of its pain patients. The settlement resolves a civil investigation initiated by the Northern District of Georgia in the throes of the opioid epidemic. In 2015, the Middle District of Georgia joined the investigation, and the two offices worked together to bring about today’s announced resolution.

“Together with our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, our attorneys have successfully concluded years of hard-fought litigation on behalf of the citizens,” U.S. Attorney Peter Dr. Leary. “This office will continue to relentlessly pursue allegations of false billing for services not actually rendered to patients, particularly where opioids are involved.”

“We will not allow health care providers to engage in schemes designed to enrich themselves and deplete the funds intended for the government’s federal health care programs,” said Ryan K. Buchanan, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia resulted in a just resolution on behalf of the Medicare Program and the taxpayers.”  Read More from Source