Chattanooga physician Dr. Robert Burkich and his clinic, Preventive Medicine Anti-Aging & Chelation, Inc., have settled with the U.S. government in a case where they were accused of billing Medicare for unjustified chelation therapy. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the allegations were that the treatments, which are generally reserved for serious cases of lead poisoning, were not medically necessary for the patients in question. The source states that between September 2009 and January 2017, Dr. Burkich billed Medicare for the chelation drug edetate calcium disodium (EDTA), despite patients not having lead poisoning.
"By falsely certifying that services provided to patients are medically necessary, healthcare providers deplete the resources available to Medicare beneficiaries who are actually in need of care," said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. In coordination with law enforcement partners, the Attorney's Office has expressed continued commitment to curbing fraudulent claims that abuse the Medicare system. The allegations were that Dr. Burkich sidestepped Medicare restrictions by falsely indicating his patients suffered from heavy-metal-related diseases to secure reimbursements prohibit by the program's rules.
As part of the settlement, without an admission of liability, Dr. Burkich and his practice will pay $700,000 to the United States, representing restitution to Medicare. This arrangement, cited by the Department of Justice's ability-to-pay guidelines, comes after a detailed financial analysis determined what Dr. Burkich could feasibly pay. "The FBI and our partners are committed to combining resources to investigate and hold providers accountable for billing the government only for necessary services," added Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Investigations led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony DeCinque, with collaboration from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paris Wynn, brought this matter to the public's attention. The case, United States v. Burkich et al., underscores a vigilant stance against healthcare waste, fraud, and abuse, safeguarding resources for the truly needy and maintaining the integrity of vital healthcare programs.
