Texas Toxicology Lab Settles Self-Disclosed Anti-Kickback Law Charges for $1.54 Million
Case: The American Institute of Toxicology, Inc., d/b/a AIT Laboratories has agreed to pay $1,541,062 to settle charges of violating the anti-kickback law. OIG alleges that AIT, through its agent, paid remuneration by placing specimen collection personnel in 18 sober home clients. The problem is that the AIT specimen collectors performed those services free of charge. The OIG also claims that AIT’s agent forged contracts and lab test orders for federal health care beneficiaries residing in the sober homes. Significance: OIG has repeatedly warned that placing personnel who perform free services in the facilities of referral sources raises a bright red flag under the anti-kickback laws. The good news for AIT is that it likely saved itself a lot of money by self-disclosing the violations to OIG, especially when you consider that the rogue practices involved no fewer than 18 different client facilities.
Case: The American Institute of Toxicology, Inc., d/b/a AIT Laboratories has agreed to pay $1,541,062 to settle charges of violating the anti-kickback law. OIG alleges that AIT, through its agent, paid remuneration by placing specimen collection personnel in 18 sober home clients. The problem is that the AIT specimen collectors performed those services free of charge. The OIG also claims that AIT’s agent forged contracts and lab test orders for federal health care beneficiaries residing in the sober homes.
Significance: OIG has repeatedly warned that placing personnel who perform free services in the facilities of referral sources raises a bright red flag under the anti-kickback laws. The good news for AIT is that it likely saved itself a lot of money by self-disclosing the violations to OIG, especially when you consider that the rogue practices involved no fewer than 18 different client facilities.
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