A physician practice operator and a now-shuttered ASC have agreed to pay $847,394 to resolve allegations of submitting false claims, the Department of Justice said in a July 30 news release.
What happened?
- Henghold Surgery Center, based in Pensacola, Fla., and owned by William Henghold, MD, performed wound repair procedures following Mohs micrographic surgery — a specialized technique for skin cancer removal.
- The ASC, which closed in 2023, was operated by Forefront Dermatology, headquartered in Manitowoc, Wis.
- The Justice Department alleges that Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center improperly billed for wound repairs by misclassifying the procedures. Specifically, they are accused of falsely coding linear repairs as more complex flap repairs, and reporting smaller flap repairs as larger ones to obtain higher reimbursement.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.