Arkansas Cardiologist Agrees To Pay $900,000 To Settle False Claims Act Allegations

NASHVILLE – An Arkansas cardiologist has agreed to settle allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims for payment to the Medicare Program for the medically unnecessary placement of cardiac stents, announced Henry C. Leventis, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Jeffrey G. Tauth, M.D., 60, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a cardiologist who treated patients at Hot Springs National Park Hospital Holdings, LLC d/b/a National Park Medical Center (NPMC) and National Park Cardiology Services, LLC d/b/a Hot Springs Cardiology Associates.  The United States alleges that from September 2013 through August 2019, Tauth submitted or caused the submission of claims for payment to the Medicare Program for cardiac stents that Tauth inserted into Medicare patients that were not medically necessary.  As part of the settlement, Tauth has agreed to pay $900,000 and will enter into an Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

“Health care fraud is a top priority of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Leventis. “We will aggressively pursue all those who are involved in fraud against government programs.  Whether it be a corporate entity or an individual provider, those who seek to exploit patients and federal health care programs for financial gain can expect to be the focus of our civil and criminal enforcement efforts.  As Lifepoint has done here, we encourage those who may become aware of false claims to be proactive in ceasing and disclosing the conduct, particularly when there are allegations of unnecessary medical procedures.”

The settlement follows a November 2019 voluntary disclosure to this Office pursuant to the protocols of the HHS Office of Inspector General, by Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health (Lifepoint), which acquired NPMC and Hot Springs Cardiology Associates in November 2018. 

As a result of the voluntary disclosure, the United States entered into a settlement with NPMC and Hot Springs Cardiology in October 2020 for alleged violations of the False Claims Act, wherein the entities agreed to pay $14,669,586, including over $9,000,000 in restitution. 

"Submitting claims for medically unnecessary procedures undermines the integrity of federal health care programs and wastes valuable taxpayer dollars," said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. "HHS-OIG will continue to work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of federal healthcare programs and to ensure the appropriate use of U.S. taxpayer dollars."

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Office of Inspector General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara F. Sweet represented the United States. 

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

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