Cardiologists to Settle UMDNJ Payoff Case
Four cardiologists tied to a kick back scheme at the state’s medical university will return $387,000 to settle civil charges that they were paid to refer patients to the university’s cardiac surgery program.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, which announced the settlements yesterday, charged that the four were given academic posts at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in return for patient referrals, but performed little or no services.
More than a dozen so-called “community cardiologists” have so far been implicated in the case, which came to light after the former head of the school’s cardiology division filed a whistleblower suit more than a year ago. A federal monitor later concluded that the cardiologists—hired as part-time faculty members—had no research credentials, taught no classes and were essentially paid to bring patients into a heart surgery program that was then at risk of losing its state accreditation.
“We will continue to pursue those who make referrals based on financial considerations rather than patient health,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.
The civil settlements announced yesterday were reached with cardiologists Trevor Atherley of Watchung, who agreed to return $180,000 in salary; Abdul Ameen of Bayonne, who will pay back $38,000; and Michael Benz of Nut ley, who will return approximately $30,000. Joven Dungo of Caldwell will return $138,000, representing twice the amount of salary he received.
Prosecutors said the settlements will eliminate the need to file suit against the four doctors.
Separately, additional civil suits filed last month are still pending against two more cardiologists, Joseph Campbell of Orange and Atul Prakash of Cedar Grove.
Campbell is accused of filing false reports and illegally referring Medicare-eligible patients to University Hospital, UMDNJ’s main teaching hospital. According to the federal lawsuit, Campbell was paid $75,000 in return for the referrals. The government is seeking three times Campbell’s salary in addition to $210,000 in penalties.
Prakash is accused of submit ting false statements by illegally referring more than 30 patients to University Hospital in Newark in return for $119,000 in payments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also is seeking triple reimbursement of Prakash’s salary as well as financial penalties that could exceed $2.5 million.
Two other cardiologists tied to the scheme—Bakul Desai of Livingston and Laxmipathi Garipalli of Colts Neck—pleaded guilty in February to criminal charges of embezzling approximately $840,000 in salary payments from the university for what were essentially no- show jobs. They have been cooperating with the U.S. attorney and the FBI in an ongoing, two-year criminal investigation.
