Zocdoc Gets New York Doctor’s Kickback Referral Suit Thrown Out

A New York-based doctor failed to show that Zocdoc Inc. violated the False Claims Act by engaging in a kickback scheme that favored doctors who paid certain fees, a federal district court said.

Whistleblower Stephen Sisselman said Zocdoc, which operates an online platform to help patients find medical providers, charges doctors an annual fee to be listed in the platform’s database, and a separate fee for each new patient that books an appointment through Zocdoc.

He said the new-patient fees violated the Anti-Kickback Statute because they favor providers who pay them over those who don’t, and therefore each claim for ...