The United States Department of Justice announced today that Quest Diagnostics Inc. and Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (collectively “Quest Diagnostics”) have paid the United States $1.79 million to settle claims that it violated the False Claims Act.
This settlement resolves allegations that Quest Diagnostics submitted duplicative claims to Medicare for certain venipuncture services and diagnostic tests and certain panel tests and select components of those panels. The United States alleged that these payments violated the False Claims Act.
“We are committed to fighting fraud and abuse to help preserve scarce Medicare funds for those who need it the most, the sick and the elderly.” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner.
The settlement announced today resolves a lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of California under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act. These provisions allow private citizens to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. The whistleblower in this case will receive $358,000 of the recovery proceeds.
This case was investigated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Swann handled the matter for the United States. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
