Eye Centers of Florida, based in Fort Myers, plans to settle Medicare billing fraud allegations with a $525,000 payment, according to the Naples Daily News.
Here are five things to know:
1. The U.S. Attorney's Office accused Eye Centers of Florida employees of altering medical records to lower patient scores on vision tests. As a result, the patients became candidates for cataract surgery.
2. The alleged fraud took place from Jan. 1, 2012, to March 1, 2014, and included Advantica Medicare plan patients.
3. Two former Eye Centers of Florida employees were whistle-blowers in the case.
4. Eye Centers of Florida agreed to settle the allegations with a $525,000 payment, and the whistleblowers received $115,000.
5. The practice has 11 locations in Florida, including the SurgiCare Center ASC.