Jena Medical Group, LLC, along with Benjamin Weiss, Moishe Hoffman, and Jason Schultz, have agreed to pay $1,724,986.08 to the U.S. government to resolve charges of violating the False Claims Act. The group allegedly submitted claims to Medicare and TRICARE for medically unnecessary radiofrequency ablations conducted by an untrained technician between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020.

Patients were allegedly misled into thinking the technician was a certified doctor, and used catheters were reportedly reused, despite being designed for a single use. The U.S. Attorney emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of national healthcare programs, and justice officials expressed continued commitment to protecting patients’ health.

The resolution of these charges sends a strong message about prioritizing patient care over profits. This settlement concludes a lawsuit initiated in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida by Michael Lomonaco, a former Jena Medical employee and present Doctor of Nursing Practice. Lomonaco, who brought the case as a whistleblower under the False Claims Act, will receive over $300,000 from the settlement proceeds.

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Originating Article: Justics.gov | Jena Medical Group, LLC, Its Principals And Physician Agree To Pay Over $1.7 Million To Settle False Claims Act Liability For Improperly Performed Procedures