A Manchester osteopath has agreed to pay more than $133,000 to settle civil claims that he submitted to Medicare claims for payment that he wasn’t entitled to over a period that spans more than three and a half years.

Under the terms of the agreement, Charles Landry admits no liability. At the same time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office does not concede its claims were not well founded.

Landry entered into the civil agreement to avoid lengthy litigation and the expense and uncertainty that accompanies it.

In its announcement of the settlement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says Landry submitted false claims for payment to Medicare for evaluation and management from January 2011 through August 2014 that weren’t eligible for payment because “they were provided in connection with, and integral to, osteopathic manipulative treatment Dr. Landry performed on the same day.” The complaint states Landry knowingly and recklessly disregarded guidance from the Medicare program that the claims were not eligible for payment and as result, he received $66,732 in payments to which he was not entitled. The case was investigated by the Inspector General’s Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In a statement released Wednesday, John Doyle Jr., attorney for Landry, said none of the issues had to do with patient satisfaction or the quality of care Landry provided.

“The issues in the case, rather, relate to complex federal regulations dealing with coding, record keeping and documentation. Dr. Landry followed coding and billing guidance from medical experts and acted in good faith in providing the best medical treatment possible,” Doyle said.

Landry has agreed to pay $133,464, twice what he received, over the next five years.

“Putting this behind him will allow him to better serve his patients,” Doyle said.

Landry’s license to practice osteopathic medicine remains active.


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