Delaware cardiology practice to pay $500K to resolve fraud allegations
Eranga Cardiology and cardiologist Eranga Haththotuwa, MD, have agreed to pay $500,000 to the government to resolve multiple fraud allegations.
Eranga Cardiology has two locations in Delaware, one in Milford and another in Dover. The practice was accused of submitting reimbursement claims to Medicare and Medicaid, and receiving payments for those claims, without ever completing the actual services. The alleged wrongdoings occurred from April 2014 to March 2020.
These incidents first came to the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice through the False Claims Act. A whistleblower alerted the government and the claims were investigated. The whistleblower is eligible to receive a share of any sum the government recovers related to the claims.
As a part of its settlement, Eranga Cardiology has not admitted fault; these remain allegations only.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware is committed to combating health care fraud and protecting Medicare beneficiaries using all available remedies,” U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss said in a statement. “When providers cut corners by failing to ensure that procedures are adequately documented, it cheats both the patients and the government.”
“Providers should bill taxpayer-funded government health programs for services actually provided—no less and certainly never more,” Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in the same statement. “We will continue aggressively investigating schemes that undermine the integrity of these vital programs.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.