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Ocala
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Ocala neurologist agrees to pay $800,000 to resolve allegations of prescribing medically unnecessary, unreasonable drugs

An Ocala neurologist has agreed to pay $800,000 to resolve allegations that he prescribed medically unnecessary and unreasonable prescription drugs.

Florida Neurological Center, LLC, which is located at 2237 SW 19th Avenue Road, and owner Dr. Lance Kim, have agreed to pay $800,000 to resolve allegations that Dr. Kim prescribed medically unnecessary and unreasonable prescription drugs, specifically, Acthar Gel®, which cost the Medicare program approximately $35,000 each time Dr. Kim prescribed a five-day supply.

The settlement partially resolves allegations made in a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act filed in Orlando by Michael Singbush, Andrea Herrera, and Harvey Kessler Meyer, IV. The Act permits private individuals, referred to as relators, to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery. Relators will receive a total of $144,000 as their share of the recovery.

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Singbush v. Florida Neurological Center, LLC, Case No. 5:19-cv-603-Oc-GPB-PRL (M.D. Fla.). The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

This case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with investigative assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Ho coordinated the investigation.