In a recent announcement, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero confirmed that a chiropractor and his practice, known collectively as Healing Place, have agreed to a $170,000 settlement over claims of fraudulent billing activities. This case is part of a broader national effort by authorities to address deceptive billing schemes involving "Sanexas" devices. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Gregory Thomas White Jr., DC, and his practice allegedly submitted non-reimbursable claims to Medicare.
Healing Place, a chiropractic clinic located in Chalfont, Pa., utilized the Sanexas electric stimulation device to treat patient conditions like edema and chronic pain. Nevertheless, the United States has contended that, during a specified period, approximately 27,121 claims for Sanexas and related treatments were improperly billed to Medicare, although these were considered non-reimbursable.
It's important to note that while the FDA cleared the RST Sanexas, Inc. device, it was not approved for use with vitamin injections in the manner administered by Healing Place. Furthermore, the vitamin blend was bulk-produced and not FDA-approved for individual patient prescriptions. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Healing Place's use of vitamin injections does not meet the strict Medicare Part B coverage criteria for prescription drugs.
The matter was thoroughly investigated by HHS-OIG and managed by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Wolfish, among others. It's crucial to underline that the allegations addressed in this settlement have not led to a determination of civil liability. These developments serve as a sharp reminder to healthcare providers of the importance of compliance with Medicare billing requirements.
