Cardiology practice pays $3.6M to settle fraud case

A cardiology group in New Jersey has agreed to pay $3.6 million to settle charges that it billed Medicare for tests and procedures that federal authorities considered to be unnecessary medically.

Garden State Cardiovascular Specialists P.C. was accused of submitting claims to the federal government for stress tests, cardiac catheterizations, external counterpulsation and other cardiology diagnostic tests and procedures that were not needed. The suit charged the practice and its principals, cardiologist Jasjit Walia, MD, MBA, and interventional cardiologist Preet Randhawa, MD.

Garden State Cardiovascular Specialists P.C owns and operates facilities in eight locations in New Jersey under the name NJ MedCare/NJ Heart.

The case was initiated by Cheryl Mazurek, according to the Department of Justice. Under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, she is entitled to $648,000.

The settlement is not a determination of liability and the claims remain allegations only.