WAYCROSS, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney says Satilla Regional Medical Center has paid the federal government $840,000 to settle allegations that it submitted false claims for medical procedures that were worthless and not medically necessary.
A federal lawsuit, originally filed in July 2010, alleged that Satilla and Dr. Najam Azmat, a surgeon on staff, submitted claims for endovascular procedures performed at the center's heart center that the physician was neither qualified nor properly credentialed to perform.
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At least one patient died as a result of a proceedure, others were seriously injured, and many patients were unnecessarily endangered. The lawsuit was filed to recover the money paid to Satilla for the hospital services it provided that were related to Azmat's endovascular procedures.
The settlement announced Thursday resolves the false claims allegations only against Satilla. Other litigation is pending.
"The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the Medicare program and its beneficiaries from unscrupulous providers who place profits over quality health care," said U.S. Attorney Edward Tarver.
The investigation of Satilla and Azmat resulted from a or whistleblower lawsuit filed by Lana Rogers, a nurse who formerly worked in Satilla's Heart Center.
Rogers will receive a share of the settlement proceeds.