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Texas Physicians and Practice Settle Case Involving Kickbacks

On November 1, 2017, Ladan Bakhtari, M.D., David E. Garza, M.D., and Doctors of Internal Medicine (collectively, "Doctors of IM"), Plano, Texas, entered into a $53,820 settlement agreement with OIG. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that Doctors of IM solicited and received remuneration from Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL), a laboratory company, in the form of "process and handling" payments related to the collection of blood. OIG alleged that Doctors of IM solicited and received the remuneration from HDL in exchange for Doctors of IM and Doctors of IM employees referring patients for laboratory testing services to HDL, for which the Medicare Program paid. Senior Counsels Katie Fink and Jennifer Leonardis represented OIG with the assistance of Program Analyst Mariel Filtz.

Action Details

  • Date:November 1, 2017
  • Enforcement Types:
    • CMP and Affirmative Exclusions