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February 23, 2022

Hamden psychiatric practice to pay $310K for employment violation

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By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

A Hamden-based psychiatric practice must pay $310,874 to resolve claims that it improperly employed an individual with a prior conviction for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

The practice, Geriatric & Adult Psychiatry LLC, and its owner, Dr. Alan Siegal, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with both federal and state governments. The agreement resolves  allegations that the practice improperly employed an individual who previously had been excluded from all federal healthcare programs, according to statements issued Wednesday from both the U.S. Attorney’s office and state Attorney General.

The medical practice is located on Washington Avenue in Hamden.

The individual in question is a former physician, Eric Ressner. According to federal prosecutors, Ressner in 2006 was convicted in the Southern District of Florida of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. This conviction excludes him from participating in any federal health care programs. Officials indicated he also lost his license to practice medicine.

However, in February 2016, Siegal and his practice hired Ressner as clinical director, documents show. Ressner reportedly served in that role through June 2021. During that time, the practice billed and sought reimbursements from federal healthcare programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and the Railroad Retirement Medicare Program.  

State and federal officials indicated that a portion of those funds went toward Ressner’s salary and benefits.

To resolve civil liability under federal and state False Claims Acts, the practice and Siegal will pay $310,874, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

State Attorney General William Tong’s office issued a separate announcement on the settlement. 

“For five years, (the Hamden practice) used federal and state reimbursement funds to pay a staff member who had been excluded from participating in government healthcare programs because of a fraud conviction,” Tong said. “The Office of the Attorney General takes seriously our responsibility to safeguard our public healthcare programs and is prepared to take strong action against anyone who violates that public trust.” 

The government maintains a list of excluded individuals and entities HERE and advises health care providers to regularly check it to avoid non-compliance.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

 

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