by Andrew Murray | June 4th, 2019
On May 30, 2019, the Department of Justice announced that a Kansas cardiologist, Joseph P. Galichia, and his medical group, Galichia Medical Group, P.A., agreed to pay $5.8 million to settle allegations that they improperly billed federal programs for procedures that were not medically necessary. The Press Release states:
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The government contended that Galichia and GMED knowingly submitted false billings from Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec.31, 2014, for surgical procedures in which Galichia implanted coronary stents that were not medically necessary. The allegedly false billings were submitted to Medicare, the Defense Health Agency, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
This is the government’s third False Claims Act settlement with Galichia and GMED. In 2009, Galichia and GMED paid $1.3 million to settle allegations that they submitted claims for services not provided or lacking proper documentation. In 2000, Galichia and GMED paid $1.5 million to settle allegations that they submitted claims for a higher level of service than provided, billed twice for the same services, and billed for services not provided.
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DOJ announced that the whistleblower, another doctor, will receive $1.16 million of the settlement (a 20% relator’s share).
