A New Jersey hospital has agreed to pay the government $8.3 million to settle allegations that it illegally paid kickbacks to cardiologists and caused the submission of false claims to Medicare. The government alleged that the hospital provided several area cardiologists with sham employment positions that included little or no actual employment responsibilities. The government alleged that the employment agreements served as vehicles to pay illegal kickbacks to the cardiologists in return for their referrals.
Marc Larkins, 1st Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, noted that “The Department of Justice continues to pursue those who make referrals based on financial, rather than patient health, considerations.”
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