HEAG Pain Management Center, P.A. and its owner, Dr. Kwadwo Gyarteng-Dakwa (Dr. Dakwa), have agreed to pay $500,000.00 to resolve allegations that HEAG and Dr. Dakwa violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary diagnostic testing between January 1, 2011 and October 31, 2016. HEAG and Dr. Dakwa will also enter into an Integrity Agreement with the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The United States alleged that HEAG and Dr. Dakwa knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for diagnostic nerve conduction studies. Diagnostic tests must be ordered for a patient to treat a specific illness or injury and must be individualized to the patient’s need. The government alleged that HEAG performed the nerve conduction studies without regard to medical necessity, as these tests were performed prior to any examination by Dr. Dakwa and therefore not tailored to the treatment of the individual patient. In addition, unqualified staff at HEAG frequently performed the nerve conduction studies, despite coverage rules requiring a physician to perform the tests.
