Derek Lado, DO, and his Grand Rapids, Mich.-based practice Elite Medical Spine & Musculoskeletal Center have agreed to pay $135,871 to resolve false claims allegations, the Justice Department reported May 23.
Dr. Lado allegedly violated the False Claims Act by purchasing unapproved Botox from outside the U.S. in order to cut costs, using it to treat Medicare beneficiaries, and then billing Medicare for it.
The use of the unapproved Botox began in 2018, according to the statement.
The department said government officials intercepted several packages of the unapproved drugs and informed Elite Medical. The practice allegedly still used the drugs following the warning.