California physician to pay $500K for billing Medicaid for procedures as if they took place in ASC

Los Angeles-based physician Joel Aronowitz, MD, will pay $497,619 to settle allegations that he illegally inflated claims to Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, by billing for wound care procedures as if they took place in an ASC when they occurred in Dr. Aronowitz’s medical office. 

Advertisement

Dr. Aronowitz allegedly overbilled Medi-Cal by an estimated $248,809 for skin graft and skin wound treatments over a period of six years, according to an April 29 press release from the California Attorney General’s office. Under the agreement, he is to pay “double damages,” the press release said.  

Dr. Aronowitz is also accused of reusing unused portions of single-use skin substitute products and billing them as if they were new and unopened. 

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.

Register to Attend Webinar

160 ambulatory leaders just ranked the EHR as the single system most overdue for AI reinvention

Tuesday, August 11
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT

Presenter: Gautam Shah, MBA, FACHDM, NextGen Healthcare

Advertisement

Next Up in ASC News

Advertisement

Comments are closed.