Louisville Based Physician Settles Federal False Claims Act And State Civil Claims
Pays $751,681.16 to settle allegations
LOUISVILLE, KY – Forrest S. Kuhn, Jr., M.D., a physician specializing in allergy, asthma and immunology with medical offices in Louisville, Danville, and Glasgow, Kentucky, has agreed to pay $751,681.16 to resolve allegations that he violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health care programs, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr., who is no relation to the defendant.
“Unfortunately, the strength of our healthcare system is eroded by a minority of providers who, by carelessness or outright fraud, overcharge the government and other payors through improper billing, ” stated U.S. Attorney Kuhn. “Losses due to false healthcare claims are staggering, amounting to billions of dollars annually. In an effort to control these losses and force accountability, my Office, the Department of Justice and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office vigorously pursue and recover false and fraudulent billings as one of their highest priorities.”
“The Attorney General’s office takes its role as Medicaid watchdog very seriously, and we are committed to protecting Kentucky families and seniors from anyone who would take advantage of such a critical program,” Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said. “I want to thank my Office of Medicaid Fraud and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District for reaching this settlement agreement with Dr. Kuhn whose actions defrauded not only the government but the people government serves.”
“This doctor was billing Federal health care programs for services he never rendered,” said Derrick L. Jackson, the Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in Atlanta. “Schemes such as this cost taxpayers huge amounts of money and deprive programs like Medicare and Medicaid of the ability to deliver health care to the elderly, indigent and disabled.”
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According to the settlement agreement, the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky contend that Dr. Kuhn submitted or caused to be submitted claims for payment to the Medicare Program; the Medicaid Program; the Tricare Program; and the FEHB (Federal Employee Health Benefit) plan; for allergy tests that were never performed.
Specifically, the United States and the Commonwealth contend that between January 2, 2006, and July 31, 2015, Dr. Kuhn billed Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and FEHB for intracutaneous tests that were never peformed.
According to the terms of the agreement, Dr. Kuhn shall pay $416,865.04 to the Federal Government and $334,816.12 to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Schecter with assistance from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
