Napa Physician Agrees To Pay $400,000 To Settle Allegations That He Submitted False Claims To The Medicare Program

SAN FRANCISCO – Ali S. Vaziri, a gastroenterologist who had a private gastroenterologist practice in Napa, California, has agreed to pay the United States $400,000 to settle allegations that he submitted false claims for reimbursement to the Medicare program in violation of the False Claims Act, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch; David J. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Batdorf; and Special Agent in Charge Steve Ryan, Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

From 2007 to 2011, Dr. Vaziri allegedly billed Medicare for patient office visits that reflected more time and services than he actually spent with patients.  In addition, Dr. Vaziri allegedly billed Medicare for patient office visits that were required to be billed together with routine colonoscopies as one charge. 

This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gioconda R. Molinari handled the matter on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, with assistance of Paralegal Tiffani Chiu.