Sweet Dreams, a certified registered nurse anesthetist group, will pay more than $1 million to resolve allegations that it was involved in two kickback deals with ambulatory surgery centers, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced Aug. 5.
Allegations against this nurse anesthetist group included providing free anesthesia drugs to ASCs in exchange for exclusive agreements to provide anesthesia services; and funding construction of an ASC in Marietta, Ga. in exchange for exclusive agreements at the newly constructed ASC and other locations, says attorney Vicki Myckowiak, of Myckowiak Associates, Detroit.
Myckowiak, who alerted PBN to the announcement says that “ASCs have continued pressuring anesthesia providers to enter into these types of arrangements despite advisory opinions from the [OIG] raising the specter of anti-kickback violations."
"With this case the OIG is signaling an interest in these types of cases, stating that ‘Medical decisions, such as the selection of an anesthesia provider, should not be influenced by the payment or receipt of a kickback’,” Myckowiak adds.