Athens Orthopedic to Face Executive’s Kickback Claims at Trial

Athens Orthopedic Clinic PA must face trial on some of the claims brought by a former chief operating officer who alleges that the company and other defendants violated the False Claims Act by submitting Medicare and Medicaid claims that were tainted by kickbacks, a Georgia federal district court said.

Rebecca Hockaday adequately raised several categories of claims alleging that Athens compensated physicians in exchange for referrals to Athens-affiliated surgery centers and ancillary centers, Judge Clay D. Land of the US District Court for the Middle District of Georgia said in a Tuesday order.

For example, Hockaday sufficiently argued that Athens ...