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United States of America v. Desert Imaging Services, In Tandem Solutions Group, Leroy Candelaria LLC, Donald Burris, Vox Intus, LLC, Foundation Surgical Hospital of El Paso
Date: 04-02-2025
Case Number: 18-CV-348
Judge: LS
Court: The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (El Paso County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for El Paso
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best El Paso, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Click Here For The Best El Paso, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Hospital, Medical Imaging Services Company, and Others to Pay $3.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
The United States has reached agreements with several individuals and entities to resolve allegations of improper billing for medical imaging services at a surgical hospital in El Paso. Desert Imaging Services, L.P., In Tandem Solutions Group, LLC, and Leroy Candelaria agreed to pay the United States $693,913; Donald Burris and Vox Intus, LLC agreed to forfeit $325,000; and East El Paso Physician's Medical Center, LLC, doing business as Foundation Surgical Hospital of El Paso, agreed to entry of a consent judgment in the amount of $2,081,739.
The United States alleged that the settling parties engaged in an illegal kickback and pass-through billing scheme in which Desert Imaging used Foundation Surgical Hospital's National Provider Identifier (NPI) to submit claims for medical imaging services. Although the patients who received these services had no connection with the hospital, billing the claims as hospital outpatient services allowed Desert Imaging to obtain a higher rate of reimbursement from Federal healthcare programs. In exchange for letting Desert Imaging use its NPI, Foundation Surgical Hospital retained 17% of payments on the claims.
The settlements announced today resolve a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government's recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States and Texas ex rel. Motts v. East El Paso Physician's Medical Center, et al., Case No. EP-18-CV-348-LS (W.D. Tex.).
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Parnham and former Assistant United States Attorney Eddie Castillo handled this matter on behalf of the government.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
El Paso, Texas criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with False Claims Act Allegations
Hospital, Medical Imaging Services Company, and Others to Pay $3.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
The United States has reached agreements with several individuals and entities to resolve allegations of improper billing for medical imaging services at a surgical hospital in El Paso. Desert Imaging Services, L.P., In Tandem Solutions Group, LLC, and Leroy Candelaria agreed to pay the United States $693,913; Donald Burris and Vox Intus, LLC agreed to forfeit $325,000; and East El Paso Physician's Medical Center, LLC, doing business as Foundation Surgical Hospital of El Paso, agreed to entry of a consent judgment in the amount of $2,081,739.
The United States alleged that the settling parties engaged in an illegal kickback and pass-through billing scheme in which Desert Imaging used Foundation Surgical Hospital's National Provider Identifier (NPI) to submit claims for medical imaging services. Although the patients who received these services had no connection with the hospital, billing the claims as hospital outpatient services allowed Desert Imaging to obtain a higher rate of reimbursement from Federal healthcare programs. In exchange for letting Desert Imaging use its NPI, Foundation Surgical Hospital retained 17% of payments on the claims.
The settlements announced today resolve a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government's recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States and Texas ex rel. Motts v. East El Paso Physician's Medical Center, et al., Case No. EP-18-CV-348-LS (W.D. Tex.).
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Parnham and former Assistant United States Attorney Eddie Castillo handled this matter on behalf of the government.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Outcome:
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Desert Imaging Services, In T...?
The outcome was:
Which court heard United States of America v. Desert Imaging Services, In T...?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (El Paso County), TX. The presiding judge was LS.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Desert Imaging Services, In T...?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for El Paso. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best El Paso, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Desert Imaging Services, In T... decided?
This case was decided on April 2, 2025.