Windham Eye Group, P.C., an ophthalmological medical practice located in Windham, and its owners, Dana Woods, M.D. and William Kaufold, M.D., have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments to resolve allegations that they improperly employed an individual who was excluded from all federal healthcare programs. To resolve their liability, Windham Eye Group, Woods and Kaufold will pay $192,699. Windham Eye Group employed Michael Vallone as its practice administrator between February 2010 and May 2021. Vallone had previously been convicted in the District of Jersey of healthcare fraud. As a result of his conviction, he was excluded from all federal healthcare programs. During the time that Vallone served as the practice administrator for Windham Eye Group, the practice and its owners billed and sought reimbursements from federal healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. A portion of the reimbursements that Windham Eye Group and its owners received were used to pay Vallone’s salary and benefits.
