Tareen Dermatology agrees to pay $1.6M over false claims to Medicare
By 
Adrianne Appel2024-07-01T21:14:00
A Minnesota dermatology practice, its owner, and chief executive agreed to pay $1.6 million to settle allegations, first brought by two whistleblowers, that the company violated the Anti-Kickback Statue by making false claims to Medicare.
Tareen Dermatology (TD), dermatologist and owner Mohiba Tareen, and CEO Basir Tareen, also settled charges of wrongful termination and retaliation against one of the whistleblowers who served as a billing specialist, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and state of Minnesota alleged in a complaint.
The case resolves claims brought under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Carrie Cremin, TD’s former director of laser therapy, and Susanne Polzin, its former billing specialist. The pair will receive an undisclosed amount of the settlement total, the DOJ announced in a press release Friday.
Related articles
-
News BriefDOJ targets $14.6B in health care fraud with focus on transnational crime
Emerging enforcement priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice’s health care fraud division align with the Trump administration’s emphasis on prosecuting transnational criminal organizations and ending opioid trafficking.
-
News BriefDOJ orders DaVita to pay $34M over alleged dialysis center kickback scheme
DaVita, a multi-state dialysis provider, agreed to pay more than $34 million to resolve allegations it engaged in numerous kickback schemes to doctors who referred Medicare patients to its dialysis centers, the Department of Justice announced.
-
News BriefKindred hospice agrees to pay $19M in multi-state DOJ false claims case
A multi-state hospice home health provider agreed to pay $19.4 million to settle allegations that it paid kickbacks and knowingly billed federal health programs to treat non-terminally ill patients.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
ArticleNY auto insurers on the hook for $19M for cybersecurity violations
Eight auto insurers failed to meet the requirements of New York’s cybersecurity regulations during widespread online attacks in 2021 and will pay $19 million under consent orders with the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
-
News BriefCanada to launch new federal office targeting financial crime and fraud
Canada is creating a new federal office to lead efforts against financial crime. The initiative marks the government’s most significant move yet to modernize its approach to fraud and money laundering.
-
News BriefSmartmatic faces DOJ charges amid allegations of election contract bribes
Three executives of a multinational voting machine company in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump since 2020 have been indicted in Florida by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly paying $1 million in bribes to the Philippines top election official.