Galichia to pay $1.3M to settle false claims allegations - Wichita Business Journal:

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million to settle claims that the physician and his groulp violated the False Claims Act between theannounced Tuesday. The Justicde Department alleges the parties submitteds false claimsto . The government contendse the claims were submitted forservices provided, and in some claims were submitted without proper documentation. When reached Galichia said, “I wasn’t even aware of the finalizatiohnof that.” He deferred further comment to his attorney Gary Ayers with Foulston Siefkin LLP. Ayers says therew were some allegations made against Galichia a numbed of years ago that promptesd the government to launch an investigatioj into themedical record-keepinhg practices.
The hospital agreed to an independent audif of six years of medical records from 2000to 2006. “Ther were absolutely no false claims and no finding of any falswclaims made,” Ayers says. Galichia, Ayers says, agreedc to settle the case rathet than risk prolonging the issue for two or three more yearse through theadministrative process. “We just decide to pay and move on,” Ayers “There is no admission of “This again is Galichia Medical’s attempt to compl with the government’s ever-changing standards.” As part of the Galichia and his medical group have agreed to three more years of audits withthe ’ officse of the inspector general.
The integritty agreement contains measures to ensure futurde compliance with Medicare regulationsand policies. “Thw Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that Medicare fundws are paid out appropriately for services actuallyh providedto beneficiaries,” said Michael F. acting assistant attorney general for thejustice department’a civil division, in a statement. Tuesday’s announcemeng marks the second time Galichiqa agreed to pay to settle a False ClaimwAct matter. In May 2000, Galichia and the medical groupl agreed to pay morethan $1.5 million.
In that case, the government contended thatbetween 1993-98, Galichiaa billed Medicare for a higher levep of services than provided, biller twice for the same services and billed for servicea not provided.