Quincy Medical Group Pays $500K in Cardiac Fraud Settlement

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Quincy Medical Group (QMG) in Quincy, Illinois, has coughed up $500,000 to settle allegations of ripping off Medicare and Medicaid. Federal and state authorities say QMG submitted claims for cardiac catheterization procedures that were, quite simply, unnecessary – all performed by a physician formerly on staff. This comes hot on the heels of a similar $2.82 million settlement with Blessing Hospital just last month, painting a clear picture of systemic issues in the region.

The feds will pocket roughly $459,000 from the settlement, while the State of Illinois gets nearly $40,000. The remaining funds will be distributed to Iowa and Missouri. The alleged scheme ran from August 1, 2012, to August 30, 2018, and involved the implantation of medically unnecessary coronary arterial stents during these cardiac catheterizations. Essentially, patients were subjected to procedures they didn’t need, and taxpayers footed the bill.

“This second part of the combined over 3 million dollar settlement is fair to both sides and demonstrates what should occur when alleged fraud is uncovered,” stated Acting United States Attorney Douglas J. Quivey for the Central District of Illinois. A polite way of saying: we caught you, and you’re paying. Quivey emphasized the need for “quality control and billing safeguards” – a basic expectation for any medical provider, but apparently a novel concept at QMG.

Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, didn’t mince words either. “The physician performing these allegedly needless procedures exploited patients and the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” he said. Muller vowed continued collaboration with law enforcement to “protect the integrity of federal health programs” and hold accountable those who prey on the system. It’s a war on waste, fraud, and abuse – and QMG just took a hit.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly chimed in, stating the ISP is “dedicated to investigating healthcare fraud and to ensuring that tax dollars are used appropriately for the care of patients.” This investigation proves that dedication isn’t just talk. While the settlement resolves the allegations, it’s crucial to remember that no formal determination of liability has been made. Still, a half-million dollar payout speaks volumes.

This bust was a coordinated effort involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the Inspector General’s Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hoelzer and Department of Justice Senior Trial Counsel Laurie Oberembt steered the government’s case. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil.