Atlanta-based American Health Imaging, Inc. and its former CEO, Scott Arant, have agreed to pay $5.25 million to settle allegations that they provided illegal incentives to doctors for patient referrals. The settlement resolves accusations that the imaging company violated the False Claims Act by offering meals, event tickets, and excessive payments to induce referrals to their diagnostic testing facilities.
Key Terms: Kickback- Kickbacks are when someone gives money or gifts to another person in secret, usually to get them to do something that might not be fair or honest.
Just the Facts:
• The alleged violations occurred between 2011 and 2019 and included gifts such as tickets to SEC football games, concerts, fishing trips, and monthly dinners with referring physicians.
• AHI was also accused of paying physicians above-market rates to interpret scans referred to AHI.
• The case was brought forward by whistleblower Tanya Benjamin, a former employee of AHI, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.
• Federal and state investigations were led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Georgia’s Medicaid Fraud Division.
The Details: The settlement marks a strong stance against the misuse of health care funds, with officials emphasizing that such practices compromise the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid programs.
• Whistleblower Tanya Benjamin will receive a portion of the settlement, as permitted by the False Claims Act.
• The claims resolved in this settlement are allegations, and AHI and Arant have not admitted to any liability.
On The Record: “We won’t allow for any provider to take advantage of a system meant to care for our most vulnerable Georgians,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “We will continue to protect the interests of Georgia patients and taxpayers by putting a stop to Medicaid fraud and abuse in our state.”
How You Can Help: If you suspect health care fraud, report it to the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Division or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
