Chiropractor Kevin Michael Brown, of Menifee, has agreed to pay $180,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by submitting hundreds of false claims to Medicare for surgically implanted neurostimulators. As part of the settlement, Brown stipulated that, through his companies, Revive Medical of San Diego and Revive Medical LLC, located in Oklahoma City, he submitted claims to Medicare for surgically implanted neurostimulator devices, even though his companies did not perform surgery or implant neurostimulators. Brown stipulated that he and his companies instead taped a disposable “electroacupuncture” device called “Stivax” to their patients’ ears. Stivax devices do not require surgical implantation and are not reimbursable by Medicare. The United States alleges that this conduct violated the False Claims Act. In addition to paying the civil settlement, Brown agreed to a five-year exclusion period from Medicare, Medicaid, and all other federal healthcare programs.
