The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced on Monday that Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, PC (ECOP) has agreed to pay $790,000 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act.
The claims involve civil liability for submitting improper Medicare bills related to Evaluation & Management (E&M) services.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, from September 1, 2018, through April 7, 2025, ECOP submitted claims to Medicare Part B for E&M services on the same day that beneficiaries received bilateral eye injections—a practice that violates Medicare billing regulations.
“The United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is dedicated to working with its law enforcement partners to zealously investigate allegations of the submission of unsupported claims to federal healthcare programs,” said Gurganus. “Improperly billing federal healthcare programs increases the costs of these taxpayer-funded programs. Settlements like this one are an important part of the fight against fraud, waste and abuse.”
Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), emphasized that healthcare providers must adhere to Medicare rules when submitting claims. “HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicare program and maintaining the trust of the people it serves,” she said.
The case was investigated by HHS-OIG and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Haken of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit.
Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania operates multiple locations across eastern and central Pennsylvania, including offices in:
- Wyomissing
- Pottsville
- Pottstown
- Blandon
- Lebanon