Robert Tassin, MD, a physician in Slidell, La., was sentenced April 9 to probation for a scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary tests.
From February to September 2019, Dr. Tassin worked with telemedicine companies, signing orders for cancer genetics tests for Medicare beneficiaries he never treated, according to an April 10 news release from the Justice Department.
The orders resulted in more than $6.6 million in false claims to Medicare. The program reimbursed more than $2 million for the claims.
Dr. Tassin made false statements to support the orders and falsely certified medical records that the tests were necessary.
The telemedicine companies paid Dr. Tassin a set fee for each of the orders, which was typically $30.
Dr. Tassin was sentenced to three years probation and is banned from participating in healthcare during probation without approval. He also paid more than $2 million in restitution to Medicare, the release said.
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