Man filed qui tam action for alleged upcoding of services – $4,225,000 Settlement

In this case against Fredericksburg Hos­pitalist Group, PLLC (and 14 of its individ­ual owners) plaintiff/ relator Richard Mor­row alleged that the defendants knowing­ly and intentionally upcoded evaluation and management codes for hospitalist services from 2010 to 2015. This result­ed in damages to the United States and to the Commonwealth of Virginia, both of which were alleged to have overpaid for the services as a result of the upcoding. Plain­tiff/relator filed this case pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act and the Vir­ginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act.

[17-T-089]

Type of action: Qui Tam Action under the federal False Claims Act and Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act

Injuries alleged: Damages to federal and state health care programs from knowingly and intentionally upcoding evaluation and management codes for hospitalist services from 2010 to 2015.

Name of case: United States ex rel. Rich­ard Morrow v. Fredericksburg Hospitalist Group, et al.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Case no.: 1:14cv440

Name of judge: Judge Claude M. Hilton

Date resolved: May 25, 2017

Verdict or settlement: Settlement

Amount: $4,225,000

Attorneys for plaintiff: Zachary Kitts, Fairfax; Stephen Baril, Richmond; Michael Lesser, Boston

Attorneys for defendant: Julia Krebs- Makrich, Richmond; George Doumar, Arlington