Admera Health LLC (Admera) has agreed to pay the United States $5,389,648 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying commissions to third party independent contractor marketers in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). Admera will pay an additional $147,851 to individual states for claims paid to Admera by state Medicaid programs. Admera is a New Jersey-based company that provides biopharmaceutical research services for healthcare institutions and provided clinical laboratory testing services to healthcare providers relating to pharmacogenetics until 2021. Pharmacogenetics analyzes how a patient’s genetic attributes affect their response to therapeutic drugs. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from Sept. 1, 2014, through May 21, 2021, Admera made commission-based payments to independent contractor marketers in return for recommending or arranging for the ordering of genetic testing services in violation of the AKS. The AKS prohibits offering or paying remuneration in return for arranging for or recommending items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs.
