LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- A Fort Myers urologist has agreed to pay the government nearly $4 million to resolve allegations he ordered over 13,000 medically unnecessary tests in order to earn bonuses.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Dr. Mier Daller of Gulfstream Urology will pay the government $3.81 million.
Federal prosecutors say Daller's practice was a division of 21st Century Oncology, a cancer care service based in Fort Myers that also owns the laboratory performing the tests.
Dr. Daller is accused of ordering over 13,000 tests for bladder cancer, largely in cases in which they were deemed medically unnecessary. In turn, Dr. Daller received approximately $2 million in bonuses associated with the tests.
The United States previously entered into settlements relating to similar allegations with 21st Century Oncology for $19.75 million and urologists David Spellberg, M.D. and Robert Scappa, D.O. for $1,050,000 and $250,000, respectively.
The whistleblower in this case, a former medical assistant who worked for David Spellberg, M.D. at Naples Urology Associates, which was also a division of 21st Century Oncology, will receive $571,500 as her share of this recovery. Thats in addition to a $3,437,000 million share she already received as a result of the settlements previously reached with David Spellberg, M.D, Robert Scappa, D.O., and 21st Century Oncology.
