U.S. Joins Case Against Cincinnati Health Care Facilities Alleging Kickbacks for Cardia...(working at the Heart Station. The go...),Health

"The government's intervention in this case demonstrates the Justice Department's continued commitment to ensuring that medical decisions are based on the medical needs of the patients and not on unlawful financial incentives paid to physicians," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey S. Bucholtz, of the Justice Department's Civil Division.

The lawsuit was originally filed in the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a cardiologist who previously provided services to Christ Hospital and Ohio Heart. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery.

"Our office chose to intervene because we believe this case is critical to protecting the integrity of the federal healthcare benefit programs," U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart said.

The government's investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Columbus, Ohio; the Justice Department's Civil Division; the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.