Edison, N.J.-based AP Surgery Center owner Harshad Patel agreed to pay New Jersey $718,000 to settle allegations he defrauded the state's Charity Care Fund by underreporting gross receipts, My Central Jersey reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Mr. Patel owns AP Surgery Center as well as three diagnostic centers.
2. He allegedly underreported annual gross receipts evading more than $1 million in Charity Care Fund-earmarked assessments.
3. The Charity Care Fund provides subsidies to centers and hospitals that provide charity medical care. The fund is paid for partially through an annual assessment on ASCs.
4. Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said, "This is an important settlement for New Jersey residents — not only because of the dollars involved, but because of the message it sends that we take seriously our responsibility to root out false claims activity and protect the state's charitable healthcare assets."