PHILADELPHIA – A Pottstown man alleges he was terminated in retaliation for reporting false billing to Medicare by his Audubon employers.
Zeth Holbert filed a complaint on Aug. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Tri-County Hospitalists LLC and Navneet K. Sharma M.D. citing the False Claims Act and retaliation.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was employed by Tri-County Hospitalists from May 2017 to May 2019 as a billing specialist and worked under the supervision of Sharma. The plaintiff alleges Sharma directed employees to bill for tobacco abuse counseling and advanced care planning to Medicare for every patient. He alleges he reported his concerns and an investigation was launched.
The suit states the defendants constructively discharged him as he was would not bill for advanced care planning as directed.
The plaintiff is seeking relief and damages. The plaintiff is represented by Christopher J. Delgaizo of Derek Smith Law Group PLLC in Philadelphia.
The case has been assigned to Judge Timothy J. Savage.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:19-cv-03531