NEW YORK – The US Department of Justice said this week that a California-based mobile phlebotomy company and its owners have agreed to pay at least $135,000 to resolve fraud charges.
According to prosecutors, Myrna and Sonny Steinbaum, owners of Veni-Express, submitted false claims for mobile phlebotomy services and travel mileage and paid kickbacks to a third-party marketer of their services in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
The government alleges that between 2015 and 2019, with the Steinbaums' oversight and approval, Veni-Express submitted false claims for blood draws the company did not actually perform during home visits and for mileage associated with these visits. Additionally, between July 2014 and June 2015, the company paid illegal kickbacks to a third-party, Altera Laboratories, also known as Med2U Healthcare for the marketing of its services.
To resolve these allegations, Veni-Express has agreed to pay $100,000, plus additional amounts based on the sale of company property. Myrna Steinbaum has agreed to pay $25,000, and Sonny Steinbaum has agreed to pay $10,000. These settlements are based on their ability to pay.