Three Tennessee medical providers have agreed to settle allegations of False Claims Acts violations relating to the submission of claims seeking reimbursement for autonomic nervous system testing, announced U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. 

The United States and Tennessee contend that: Premier Internal Medicine of Giles County, PLLC (Premier) violated the False Claims Act and the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting claims for non-reimbursable and/or medically unnecessary autonomic nervous system testing during the period of January 2, 2015, through April 28, 2021.  As a result of the settlement, Premier will pay $440,518.84, of which $264,050.17 is restitution.

Christine King-Patterson (King), a medical practitioner at a former medical practice in Waverly, Tennessee, violated the FCA by submitting claims for non-reimbursable and/or medically unnecessary autonomic nervous system testing during the period of January 2, 2015, through December 31, 2020.  King will pay $126,988.65, of which $82,118.36 is restitution.

Monica Masingale, formerly a nurse practitioner in Englewood, Tennessee, violated the FCA by submitting claims for non-reimbursable and/or medically unnecessary autonomic nervous system testing during the period of February 1, 2015, through October 30, 2019.  Masingale will pay $315,000 in restitution under the terms of the settlement. 

Of the $882,50749 in settlements, the United States will receive $639,551.41 and Tennessee will receive $242,956.08.

The civil claims resolved by these settlements are allegations.  There has been no determination or admission of liability.

These matters were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara F. Sweet of the Middle District of Tennessee and Senior Assistant Attorney General Tony Hullender of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.

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