Napa Doctor Will Pay $400k To Settle False Claim Allegations

SAN FRANCISCO - A Napa doctor has agreed to pay the U.S. government $400,000 to settle allegations that he filed false claims for Medicare reimbursement, Acting U.S. Attorney Brian Stretch announced in San Francisco Tuesday.

The agreement with Ali Vaziri, a gastroenterologist, settles the allegations without the need for a civil lawsuit by the government.

It provides that Vaziri, while agreeing to pay the $400,000, does not admit to any liability.

Federal attorneys alleged that between 2007 and 2011, Vaziri billed Medicare for patient office visits that were longer and included more services than the consultations he actually provided.

He was also alleged have billed separately for office visits that were required to be billed together with colonoscopies.

Stretch said the investigation was carried out jointly by the U.S. Attorney's Office for Northern California, Department of Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service and FBI.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock