Neurologist and Pain Management Physician Agrees to Resolve Fraud, Controlled Substances Act Allegations
- June 28, 2024
Dr. Mustafa A. Hammad, M.D., who formerly practiced medicine at the NeuroMedical Institute in Panama City, FL, entered into a consent judgment and settlement agreement to resolve False Claims Act (FCA) and Controlled Substances Act (CSA) allegations, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Jason R. Coody announced June 25.
According to a press release, to resolve pending litigation, Hammad agreed to: (1) a consent judgment in the amount of $550,000; (2) the United States’ sale of Hammad’s real property in Panama City; (3) not to contest a forfeiture judgment entered against Hammad in the amount of $506,017.40; and (4) not to reapply for a Drug Enforcement Administration registration.
The government’s lawsuit alleged that Hammad, who established medical centers in Palestine and Israel and has resided outside the United States since approximately September 2019, conducted and interpreted approximately 582 sleep studies while he was physically located outside the United States and billed the Medicare and Medicaid programs for such services in violation of the FCA. The government also alleged that Hammad issued multiple prescriptions on dates he was physically outside the United States in violation of the CSA.
The settlement resolves allegations only and no determination of liability has been made.