DOJ: Arizona Cardiology Group Pays $4.75M for Unnecessary Vein Ablations

DOJ News

Filed March 12th, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The Department of Justice announced that Tri-City Cardiology, P.C., and three physicians will pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The group allegedly performed medically unnecessary vein ablations between January 1, 2017, and April 27, 2022.

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What changed

The Department of Justice, through its Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, has secured a $4.75 million settlement from Tri-City Cardiology, P.C., and three physicians to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act. The core of the allegations is that the group knowingly performed medically unnecessary vein ablations on patients between January 1, 2017, and April 27, 2022, by falsifying medical records to appear compliant with accepted medical standards. This action highlights the DOJ's continued focus on combating healthcare fraud and protecting taxpayer funds.

This settlement serves as a reminder to healthcare providers that performing and billing for medically unnecessary procedures can lead to significant financial penalties under the False Claims Act. Compliance officers should review their internal policies and procedures related to medical necessity documentation and billing practices, particularly for procedures like vein ablations. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned for other entities, the resolution underscores the importance of adhering to accepted medical standards and accurate record-keeping to avoid liability. The government encourages reporting of potential healthcare fraud through HHS.

What to do next

Review internal policies for medical necessity documentation and billing practices.
Ensure adherence to accepted medical standards for all procedures.
Verify accuracy of medical records and conservative therapy documentation.

Penalties

$4.75 million civil settlement

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Press Release

Arizona Cardiology Group to Pay $4.75M to Resolve Allegations of Unnecessary Vein Ablations

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Share For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Note, View settlement here .

Tri-City Cardiology, P.C., a physician group based in the metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, and three individual physicians, have agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein ablations.

“Physicians should not prioritize profit over patient needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Medicare and other federal programs pay only for medical care that meets accepted standards, and the falsification of medical records undermines efforts to assess whether medical care was appropriate.”

“Paying for unnecessary medical procedures reduces federal programs’ capacity to pay for truly necessary procedures,” said Timothy Courchaine, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “When medical providers do not respect the difference between the two and bill in the interest of their own bottom line instead of their patients, the United States Attorney’s Office has pursued and will continue to pursue appropriate recoveries to protect taxpayer funds.”

The civil settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2017, to April 27, 2022, Dr. Jaskamal Kahlon, Dr. Joshua D. Cohen, and Dr. M. Joshua Berkowitz knowingly performed ablations on perforator veins that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice. Perforator veins are small veins that connect deep and superficial leg veins and require treatment only in certain circumstances. The United States contends that Tri-City and the physicians acted ** knowingly in incorrectly measuring or documenting in medical records the duration of outward blood flow, the diameter of veins, patient symptoms, and conservative therapy measures, which gave the appearance that the ablations met accepted medical standards and were justified.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, with assistance from HHS-OIG.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Nicholas C. Perros of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lon Leavitt of the District of Arizona.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Tri-City Settlement Agreement - Executed.pdf Updated March 12, 2026 Topic Health Care Fraud Components Civil Division USAO - Arizona Press Release Number: 26-246