Los Angeles-based physician Joel Aronowitz, MD, will pay $497,619 to settle allegations that he illegally inflated claims to Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, by billing for wound care procedures as if they took place in an ASC when they occurred in Dr. Aronowitz's medical office.
Dr. Aronowitz allegedly overbilled Medi-Cal by an estimated $248,809 for skin graft and skin wound treatments over a period of six years, according to an April 29 press release from the California Attorney General's office. Under the agreement, he is to pay "double damages," the press release said.
Dr. Aronowitz is also accused of reusing unused portions of single-use skin substitute products and billing them as if they were new and unopened.