A Connecticut-based physician and her practice have agreed to a financial settlement with the federal government over allegations of false claims and improper billing. David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, along with Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), announced that Pain Management, LLC, owned by Dr. Halina Snowball, has paid $427,129.11 to resolve these allegations.
Dr. Snowball is a licensed physiatrist and operates her pain management practice in Stamford under Pain Management, LLC. The allegations concern improper billing practices related to office visits or evaluation and management (E&M) services.
According to the government's claim, between April 2017 and November 2019, Dr. Snowball's practice submitted claims to Medicare using Modifier 25 on E&M services alongside pain injections when no significant separate E&M service was rendered. After being notified on November 20, 2019, about this misuse of Modifier 25 and assessed an overpayment, the practice continued submitting improper claims until August 2023.
To address their liability concerning these actions, Dr. Snowball and Pain Management have settled by paying $427,129.11.
The investigation was led by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services with prosecution managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Gruber.
The public is encouraged to report suspected health care fraud by contacting HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
