Premier Medical Group Agrees to Pay $2.8 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Involving Improper Billing Practices

NASHVILLE - Premier Medical Group, P.C. (Premier), a multi-physician medical practice based in Clarksville, Tennessee, has agreed to pay $2.8 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing Medicare and TRICARE for services provided by non-physician practitioners, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.

The settlement resolves allegations that, from November 1, 2018, through May 31, 2023, Premier submitted claims to Medicare and TRICARE for services performed by non-physician practitioners using physicians' National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers.

"Federal health care programs depend on providers following the rules and billing taxpayers accurately," said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. "When providers submit improper claims, they undermine the integrity of programs that millions of Americans, including our service members and veterans, rely on for essential care. Our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect these programs and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent as intended."

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Premier will pay $2.8 million to the United States.

"Holding fraudulent providers accountable is essential to safeguarding TRICARE, our military's primary health care program," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Nakia M. Alexander of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. "By aggressively combating health care fraud, we ensure critical resources remain dedicated to the care our service members, retirees, and their families deserve. This settlement reinforces this hallmark standard, and those who seek to exploit our health care systems and beneficiaries will be investigated and pursued."

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The settlement resulted from an investigation by the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, with assistance from DCIS. Assistant United States Attorney Wynn M. Shuford represented the United States.

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