The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton, Maryland (“Shore Health”), has agreed to pay the United States $296,870 to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the United States for radiation therapy and diagnostic services that lacked the required supervision from a physician. According to the settlement agreement, from January 16, 2014, through July 5, 2018, Shore Health billed Medicare for radiation therapy and diagnostic services. During this time period, Medicare covered radiation therapy and diagnostic services furnished in an outpatient setting when rendered under the direct supervision of a physician. “Direct supervision” means that the physician must be immediately available to furnish assistance and direction throughout the performance of the procedure. It does not mean that the physician must be present in the room when the procedure is performed. At all relevant times, Shore Health had only one physician, John Mastandrea, MD, available to supervise radiation therapy and diagnostic services. This settlement resolves allegations that on many occasions, Dr. Mastandrea was performing uninterruptible radiation oncology services at a separate location while unsupervised radiation therapy and diagnostic services were being performed at Shore Health.
