Dr. Robert Burkich, a physician based in Chattanooga with offices in Northwest Georgia,  has settled claims under the False Claims Act, resolving allegations that he submitted false Medicare claims for unnecessary chelation therapy.

His practice, Preventive Medicine Anti-Aging & Chelation, Inc., located in Ringgold, Georgia, was at the center of the accusations, facing allegations of falsely certifying that services provided to patients were medically necessary when they were not. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Dr. Burkich allegedly billed Medicare from September 2009 to January 2017 for administering edetate calcium disodium (EDTA) to patients who did not have lead poisoning. Medicare rules dictate that EDTA reimbursements are only permitted in cases of lead poisoning. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr., emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that such fraudulent actions waste valuable Medicare resources. Kelly J. Blackmon, of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), added that healthcare providers who prioritize profit over patient care undermine the integrity of federal health programs.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office pursued legal action against Dr. Burkich for violating the False Claims Act. As a result of the allegations, Dr. Burkich and his practice will pay $700,000 to the government as restitution to Medicare. This settlement was reached under the Department of Justice’s ability-to-pay guidelines, which consider a defendant’s financial capacity to settle a case. The allegations in the case, titled *United States v. Burkich et al.*, are not a determination of liability.

For further information, the public is encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office.