Philly Pharmacy To Pay $400K For Bogus Medicare Billing: Feds

PHILADELPHIA — The owner of a Philadelphia pharmacy will pay nearly half-a-million dollar fine after being accused of billing Medicare for medications that were not dispensed, federal authorities said.

Darshan Bapa Inc., doing business as E-Z Pharmacy II, and Natverbhai Patel will together pay $400,000 to the federal government to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for prescription medications that were not actually dispensed during the period Nov. 9, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2016 United States Attorney William McSwain.

These medications include Apidra, SoloSTAR, Renvela, Lantus, Revatio, Xifaxan, and Enbrel.

“Medicare fraud is a priority for our Office,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. “Taxpayer dollars should not be wasted on fraud and abuse, and our Office will continue to scrutinize and pursue pharmacies that engage in such conduct.”

“Pharmacies are responsible for all claims they submit to Medicare,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. “HHS-OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office take allegations of health care fraud seriously and will work together to ensure taxpayers dollars are only spent on bona fide medical claims.”

The settled civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.