In a settlement agreement made with the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Iowa, Carroll ontolaryngologist, Dr. Tracey Wellendorf, has agreed to pay $1 million to resolve a False Claims Act. A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports the claims arose from an estimated 115 endoscopic sinus surgeries performed between Oct. 13, 2014 and November 27, 2015 that did not meet the medical necessary standard for Medicaid services or were otherwise incorrectly coded for payment. “Medical providers who perform unnecessary procedures or wrongfully code claims violate the public trust,” says U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “This settlement is another indication of our office’s dedication to vigorous enforcement of the False Claims Act and our unyielding effort to protect patients, save taxpayer money and ensure a fair marketplace for honest practitioners.” Dr. Wellendorf has also agreed to enter into an Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and engage in enhanced compliance measures for three years. Carroll Broadcasting has reached out to Dr. Wellendorf, but he has declined to comment. However, we are awaiting a response from his legal counsel.
