Chiropractor runs afoul of false claims law

A South Carolina chiropractor potentially could be sent to federal prison for five years and pay a fine of $250 thousand dollars.  On November 8 the U-S District Court of South Carolina entered a $9 million civil consent judgment for the U-S against Daniel McCollum under the False Claims Act.  On the same day, the government filed an information and plea agreement in which McCollum admits to engaging in conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks and to defraud healthcare programs by billing for unnecessary medical services.  McCollum owned and operated pain management clinics, laboratories and a pharmacy in South Carolina.  He also operated pain management clinics in North Carolina and Tennessee.  His clinics did business as Pain Management Associates.  According to prosecutors, the case shows the government’s emphasis on combatting healthcare fraud.  A powerful tool powerful tool is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800/447-8477).