The United States government has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against AIMA Business and Medical Support, LLC (AIMA), alleging that the company submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare for unnecessary genetic laboratory tests. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
AIMA, a Florida limited liability company providing medical billing and compliance services, is accused of billing Medicare Part B approximately $15,178,946 from August 2018 through August 2019 on behalf of Excellent Laboratories Inc., doing business as Selecta Laboratory (Selecta). The United States contends that these bills were for genetic tests not ordered by treating physicians and therefore not medically necessary.
Medicare covers diagnostic laboratory tests only if they are ordered by a physician treating a beneficiary for a specific problem and using the results in managing that problem. The government alleges that AIMA’s actions resulted in Selecta receiving funds from Medicare to which it was not entitled.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clarissa Pinheiro is overseeing the case with HHS-OIG conducting the investigation. This action highlights the government’s focus on addressing healthcare fraud using tools like the False Claims Act.
It is important to note that these claims are currently allegations with no determination of liability yet made.
For further information, including related court documents, interested parties can visit websites associated with both the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
