Bradford Hospital Sued For Paying Kickbacks Fraud

BRMC being sued in federal court for alleged fraud, paying kickbacks to doctors

By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
Era Reporter
marcie@bradfordera.com

Bradford Regional Medical Center is being sued in federal court for alleged fraud, and allegedly paying kickbacks to doctors Peter Vaccaro and Kamran Saleh for referring all their patients to BRMC.

The lawsuit, filed in July of 2004 by doctors Dilbagh Singh, V. Rao Nadella, Paul Kirsch and Martin Jacobs against BRMC, V&S Medical Associates, Vaccaro and Saleh, is still pending in federal court in Erie before Judge Maurice Cohill. The doctors are suing under the Federal False Claims Act, as well as the Stark Law and Medicare anti-kickback statute.

The Stark Law prohibits a physician from referring patients to a medical facility where he holds a financial relationship. The anti-kickback statute prevents a physician from being compensated for referrals. The false claims portion alleges that the defendants perpetuated a scheme where they presented claims for reimbursement to government agencies for services rendered to patients who were illegally referred to BRMC. More...