The purpose of this website is to comply with the terms of my settlement with the Department of Justice dated December 27, 2010, and the Integrity Agreement dated January 17, 2011.
My firm is required to notify all parties entering into a management agreement with MSO Washington regarding this matter. This site is an efficient method to comply with the notification requirement and present my side of the story.
Readers will note that the documentation supporting me and all named defendants was produced by our accuser Bruce Brandler. Brandler was the Medicare/Medicaid “compliance officer” during the period he alleges the wrongdoings. Brandler’s accusations run counter to his extensive documentation of “his” compliance program.
My position:
Brandler falsely accused me, my firm and twenty-three licensed medical professionals of Medicare and Medicaid fraud. His filing under the “qui tam” statute alleges a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of millions of dollars.
In the complaint Brandler alleges numerous improprieties in which I and the other named defendants participated. Brandler further states that he continued to issue warnings about these alleged compliance violations. He even admits to being the “compliance officer.” The PDF file (91 pages), linked below, is a letter sent to the Department of Justice on February 12, 2014. This correspondence, including attachments (A-Z), tells a different story.
Consider the following: If Brandler had discovered any fraudulent activity he had a responsibility to report that to me. If I had not taken corrective action, Brandler then had a fiduciary responsibility to report such activity to Medicare and/or the Justice Department at that time. Brandler reported no such activity and upon his discharge from MSO Washington attempted unsuccessfully through his counsel to obtain money. Only after that did he, with the assistance of the same counsel, file the qui tam (whistleblower) lawsuit.
Brandler’s allegations run contrary to his often stated moral and religious beliefs. He regularly points his faith out to others and liberally dispensed advice on religion and moral issues. To wit: Brandler states in an email on 7/8/2004 to Tim Smith, MD, “It does not matter what Medicare knows, since we have nothing to hide, and as you know, I am a conservative person who likes to do things ‘by the book’. . . .” (Attachment Z).
In 2014 I discovered that making a false statement to a Federal investigator is a felony under Title 18, Section 1001. Upon learning that fact, I reported Brandler’s misrepresentations to DOJ. Currently I am unaware of the status of their inquiry in into this matter. I remain confident that DOJ will attend to Brandler and anyone assisting him in due time.
Read the full letter to the DOJ with attachments here: Submission to DOJ