Mercer County, Pa., medical business agrees to settle with feds
PITTSBURGH — Dr. John P. Balko and John Balko & Associates, Inc., doing business as Senior Healthcare Associates in Mercer County, have agreed to pay the United States $930,000 to settle False Claims Act allegations, the U.S. attorney said Tuesday.
The settlement resolves accusations that Dr. Balko and SHA violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to the Medicare program.
Specifically, the government alleged that Dr. Balko and SHA submitted claims for services provided to nursing home residents – including earwax removal, podiatry, and certain evaluation and management services – which were not medically necessary, not authorized or requested by patients, not supported by patient medical records, or were provided in reliance upon improper standing orders.
This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.