Tri-City Cardiology and three of its physicians have agreed to pay roughly $4.75 million to resolve federal allegations that they performed medically unnecessary vein procedures on patients in the Phoenix area. Federal officials say the dispute centers on ablations of perforator veins, the small veins that are supposed to be treated only when certain ultrasound findings and symptom criteria are met, and on recordkeeping that investigators allege was crafted to justify those procedures. The conduct in question spans from 2017 through 2022 and was disclosed by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of a civil settlement.
What the government alleges
The Department of Justice says providers recorded incorrect or misleading information in patients’ medical records to make the procedures appear necessary and to secure payment from federal health programs, according to 12News. Investigators zeroed in on ablations performed on perforator veins between 2017 and 2022. According to the government, the documentation at issue was used to make services that would not normally be reimbursable look eligible for Medicare and other federal payments.
Settlement terms and government reaction
Under the settlement announced on Thursday, Tri-City Cardiology and three physicians will pay about $4.75 million to resolve the claims. The agreement “is neither an admission of liability by defendants nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded,” the settlement document states, as reported by 12News. Timothy Courchaine, quoted in the announcement, said that paying for unnecessary medical procedures “reduces federal programs’ capacity to pay for truly necessary procedures.” The case was resolved on the civil side, and the announcement did not connect the settlement to any criminal charges.
Where Tri-City operates
Tri-City Cardiology describes itself as an East Valley cardiology practice with an ambulatory surgery center and multiple clinic locations throughout the greater Phoenix area. On its website, the group highlights a dedicated Tri-City Vein & Vascular Center and services that include endovenous ablation and other vein treatments, which form the clinical backdrop for the procedures at issue. The practice’s site does not carry a public statement about the settlement, and its online news page is limited to health tips and practice updates. Tri-City Cardiology
Federal enforcement trend
The Tri-City settlement falls into a broader wave of federal enforcement targeting providers accused of overbilling or performing medically unnecessary work. In December 2024, the Department of Justice announced that 16 cardiology practices had agreed to pay a combined $17.7 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations tied to inflated Medicare reimbursements. The Justice Department has said whistleblowers frequently play a key role in bringing such cases to light.
What comes next
The settlement wraps up the civil claims but does not itself signal criminal charges, although it could lead to repayment demands from Medicare or follow up audits. As the Department of Justice has put it, “The financial stability of federal healthcare programs depends upon providers complying with applicable billing rules,” a line that has become a touchstone for recent enforcement efforts. Patients who have concerns about past procedures are advised to contact their providers or insurers, and whistleblowers who initiated related qui tam actions may be eligible for a share of any recoveries.
