N.Y. Ophthalmologist to Pay $7M for Billing for Unapproved Drugs

A New York ophthalmologist agreed to pay nearly $7 million to settle U.S. allegations that he’d administered unapproved eye drugs purchased overseas.

Mark Fleckner of Garden City, N.Y., entered into a civil settlement under the False Claims Act after a U.S. investigation found that he’d defrauded Medicare by using the medications Eylea (aflibercept) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) to treat patients with age-related macular degeneration or other eye diseases and conditions.

The drugs, which hadn’t been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration, weren’t eligible for reimbursement, the government alleged.

The settlement, which was announced Sept. 24 by U.S. Attorney ...