Oncology firm to pay $20M fine

FORT MYERS — Cancer-care firm 21st Century Oncology agreed to pay the government $19.75 million to settle allegations that it billed federal health programs for tests that weren't medically necessary.

“Today's settlement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protect the Medicare trust fund against unscrupulous providers,” says Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Mizer, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, in a statement. “Providers who waste taxpayer dollars by billing for unnecessary services will face serious consequences.”

The settlement resolves allegations that Fort Myers-based 21st Century submitted claims to Medicare and Tricare for cancer tests that were not medically necessary. The government alleged that 21st Century submitted claims for unnecessary tests that were ordered by four of its urologists: Meir Daller, Steven Paletsky, David Spellberg and Robert Scappa, all of whom practiced in the Fort Myers area.