NEW YORK – The US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington said Friday that a Bellevue, Washington-based doctor has agreed to pay $65,680 to resolve a violation of the False Claims Act.
According to the government, Joseph Upton ordered medically unnecessary durable medical equipment and genetic testing for Medicare beneficiaries.
The Department of Justice alleges that between Aug. 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019, Upton, as part of his work for a telemedicine company known as REMN, signed durable medical equipment and genetic testing orders for Medicare beneficiaries despite never examining or speaking with the patients or confirming that the orders were medically necessary and reasonable.
Of the settlement amount, $32,840 is restitution and the rest is a penalty under the False Claims Act.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability, the DOJ said.