Atlanta Practice Pays $2.18M to Settle False Claims Allegations

Arthritis & Rheumatology Center accused of using unlicensed staff for infusion services

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Atlanta-based Arthritis & Rheumatology Center and its owner, Jatin Patel, MD, will pay $2.18 million to resolve allegations that the practice used medical assistants to perform infusion services in violation of Georgia law and submitted false claims to Medicare.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of healthcare providers following state regulations and only billing for services that are legally permitted. Submitting false claims to Medicare can lead to significant financial penalties and damage a practice's reputation.

The details

The lawsuit alleged that ARC improperly used unlicensed medical assistants to infuse chemotherapy medications into patients, despite Georgia regulations prohibiting such conduct. The Medicare program does not pay for services rendered in violation of state law.

  • On January 29, 2026, the Justice Department announced the $2.18 million settlement.

The players

Arthritis & Rheumatology Center

An Atlanta-based medical practice that was accused of using unlicensed staff to perform infusion services.

Jatin Patel, MD

The owner of Arthritis & Rheumatology Center.

Phillips Allender

A former ARC employee who filed the whistleblower complaint that led to the $2.18 million settlement.

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The takeaway

This settlement serves as a reminder to healthcare providers that they must strictly adhere to state laws and regulations when providing services, or risk facing significant financial penalties and reputational damage from false claims allegations.