A Virginia Beach doctor and his practice have agreed to pay $625,000 to resolve allegations of fraudulent billing practices targeting government health care programs. Dr. Scott Saffold and Chesapeake Bay ENT, P.C., based in Belle Haven, were accused of performing unnecessary sinus procedures and improperly billing Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.
According to federal and state investigators, the practice routinely billed for balloon sinus dilations that were not medically necessary. The procedures often involved treating six sinuses per patient—even when some or all of the treatments were unwarranted. Additionally, Dr. Saffold’s practice allegedly staged procedures over multiple visits without justification, inflating reimbursements. Further claims included billing for endoscopies using a procedural code (31235) when the services described were not performed.
The case was brought under the False Claims Act’s whistleblower provision, which allows private individuals to report suspected fraud and receive a portion of any recovered funds. In this case, the settlement closes the allegations without admission of liability.
Federal prosecutors underscored the importance of safeguarding public funds, particularly in programs designed to provide critical health care services. Whistleblower cases like this one play a pivotal role in identifying and addressing abuse of taxpayer dollars.
The $625,000 settlement serves as a reminder to medical providers about the consequences of fraudulent billing practices and the government’s commitment to accountability.