Courtesy Photo/EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA: judge and gavel
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BOSTON — Brockton Urology Clinic in North Easton has agreed to a $100,000 settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to resolve allegations that the clinic violated the False Claims Act.
According to a press release from the FBI, in 2011, Brockton Urology partnered with a Massachusetts hospital to create a “Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence” at the hospital.
But that’s not actually what happened.
Instead of creating the center, the hospital paid Brockton Urology in accordance with the agreement in exchange for Brockton Urology’s referral of patients to the hospital. This unlawful financial partnership took place between April 2011 through December 2017.
The announcement of the settlement was made today by U.S. Attorney Rachel Rollins, Phillip Coyne, the special agent in charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Joseph Bonavolonta, the special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division.
“Strict adherence to federal laws and regulations concerning the administration of our health care system is critical,” said U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins. “These safeguards are designed to protect the United States government from waste, fraud, and abuse. Our Office and its law-enforcements partners are vigilant in our efforts to stop anyone—hospitals, corporations, and even physician practices—that might be cutting corners and failing to follow our health care laws.”
The U.S. Attorney’s office determined the financial partnership was in violation of the False Claims Act because Brockton Urology submitting false claims to Medicare, which was billed by the hospital following referrals from the clinic.
“The False Claims Act exists to protect the wallets of hard-working taxpayers,” said Joseph Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division. “This settlement with Brockton Urology is a result of our continued efforts to protect the integrity of our health care programs for the patients who depend on them.”
