On April 2, 2026, the U.S. Attorney from the Northern District of Georgia announced that Jitesh Patel, M.D., Advanced Urology, Inc., and affiliated companies (collectively “Advanced Urology”) agreed to pay $14 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act. The government alleged Advanced Urology violated both laws by billing federal healthcare programs for a series of unperformed or medically unnecessary procedures.
The case was brought to the government by two whistleblowers, who collectively received $2,940,000 from the settlements for their reports. Both whistleblowers, a former staff member and a former physician at Advanced Urology, alleged that the company billed government healthcare programs for medically unnecessary procedures. Specifically, the whistleblowers reported that Advanced Urology billed for a procedure known as Direct Visual Internal Urethrotomy (DVIU) while performing a less complicated dilation practice that differs from DVIU. Together, the whistleblowers alleged that Advanced Urology was designed to maximize revenue for Dr. Patel, and that it constructs health care fraud by attempting to bill programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, violating the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729, et seq., and the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 49-4-168.1, et seq.
The Federal False Claims Act is a primary U.S. federal Law used to combat fraud against the government. The Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act imposes civil liability on any person who knowingly presents a false claim to the Georgia Medicaid program, or a false or fraudulent claim for payment. Under the qui tam provisions of both Acts, individuals are encouraged to report, on behalf of the government, those who submit false claims. The laws also protect whistleblowers from employer retaliation and provide financial incentives to come forward.
This civil settlement resolves two lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act: United States and State of Georgia ex rel. Lorraine Perumal-Szramel v. Advanced Urology, Inc. et al., No. 1:18-cv-4482-SCJ, and United States and State of Georgia ex rel. Himanshu Aggarwal, M.D. v. Jitesh V. Patel et al., No. 1:19-cv-2844-WMR.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
