The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced on August 20 that National Interventional Radiology Partners PLLC (NIRP) and its founder and CEO will pay $8,884,091 to the United States to resolve alleged violations of the federal False Claims Act (FCA) and Anti-Kickback Statute. NIRP and Dr. Andrew Gomes allegedly illegally paid physicians for referrals to treat patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which usually affects the lower legs of elderly people.

Gomes and NIRP established clinics throughout Texas beginning in 2015 to surgically treat patients with PAD. Physician investors provided the capital for these clinics. Gomes told the investors they could ensure high returns on their investments by referring patients to the clinics for treatment. A portion of the profits were then paid back to the investors as monthly dividends. Gomes also told the physicians that once the surgical centers were profitable, they could be sold, to potentially yield additional profits for the investors.

The case was brought on behalf of the United States by a whistleblower who will receive 19% of the government’s recovery, or $1,687,977.