U.S. Attorney: Durant Doctor Settles False Claims Lawsuit

<p>The U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office in Muskogee says it has resolved false claims&nbsp;allegations against an&nbsp;otolaryngologist who practiced, from 2005 to 2010, at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Friday, January 22nd 2016, 10:55 am

By: News On 6


The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Muskogee says it has resolved false claims allegations against an otolaryngologist who practiced, from 2005 to 2010, at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant.  

In a news release, U.S. Attorney Mark Green said Dr. Daniel Castro has agreed to pay $275,000 over allegations he billed SoonerCare for surgical procedures that he performed that were not performed as claimed and/or were not medically necessary.  

“It is one of our office’s highest priorities to protect the citizens of our district against unscrupulous health care providers who don’t play by the rules.  Performing unnecessary surgery not only harms patients but also wastes taxpayer dollars.  The False Claims Act is a valuable weapon in the government’s arsenal to combat these types of abuses,” said Mark Green.

Green said in a related settlement, HMA paid the U.S.and the State of Oklahoma $1.5 million dollars to resolve allegations that MCSO billed SoonerCare for surgical procedures performed by Dr. Daniel Castro that were not medically necessary. 

Otolaryngologists deal with ear, nose and throat conditions, often with children.

The news release says the allegations that the government has settled with Dr. Castro and HMA were raised in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act.  

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