Multiple organizations and their associates will pay $1.14 million to settle laboratory kickback allegations.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, the parties are two laboratory marketers, three healthcare providers, an outpatient clinic, and associated entities. The settlement will “resolve violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.”
According to the release, Shahram Naghshbandi is to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that he entered into illegal schemes to pay several thousand dollars in kickbacks to doctors for laboratory referrals. Naghshbandi has also been barred from federal healthcare programs for ten years.
Additionally, John Bello and his marketing company, RiteRx4U LLC, will pay $140,000 to “resolve allegations that, from February 1, 2019 through February 28, 2021, they paid Dr. James Cook, of Richmond. Virginia, thousands of dollars in kickbacks to induce Cook to order testing from two clinical laboratories in Kenilworth, New Jersey and Chester, Virginia.”
Settlements from the healthcare providers include:
· $228,482 from Dr. Abbesalom Ghermay to settle accusations that “he received thousands of dollars in payments from a purported MSO in return for ordering testing from a laboratory in Houston, Texas.”
· $206,987 from Dr. James Cook and his medical practice, Family Medical Centers, P.C., for allegedly receiving “thousands of dollars in payments from marketer RiteRx4U LLC in return for ordering testing from two clinical laboratories in Kenilworth, New Jersey and Chester, Virginia.”
· $99,125 from Dr. Daniel Theesfeld and his medical practice, H8 Pain Management Center of Texas PLLC, for reportedly collecting several thousand dollars “from a purported MSO in return for ordering testing from a laboratory in Houston, Texas.”
· $63,320 from Advantage Medical Group and its owner, Troy Belton for allegations of receiving “thousands of dollars in payments from two purported MSOs in return for ordering testing from three laboratories in Kenilworth, New Jersey, Dallas, Texas, and Denton, Texas.”
According to the release, “the claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.”
