Settlement Reached with Festus Doctor

Festus, Mo. (KFMO) - Administrators with the St. Louis United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announce a civil settlement has been reached with Festus Dr. Nehal Modh to resolve allegations that he and his company knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid.

Dr. Modh is the president and sole owner of Progressive Pain Management in Festus. The settlement resolves allegations that Dr. Modh and PPM falsely indicated to both Medicare and Missouri Medicaid ultrasound guidance was used on certain pain management injections, submitted false claims for payment for facet joint injections that did not meet billing substantiation requirements, and improperly coded claims for payment to receive excess reimbursement.

As part of the settlement, Dr. Modh and PPM will repay the United States $1.2 million, consisting of $600,000 in restitution doubled under the False Claims Act or FCA.

The settlement resolves allegations brought under the whistleblower provisions of the FCA by Donna Chronister, a former employee of PPM. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery.

Chronister will receive $177,707 of the proceeds from the settlement.