16 THE QUEENS COURIER • SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Hospitals
settle false
claims suit
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
edavenport@qns.com / @QNS
Th e operator of two Queens hospitals
has reached a settlement for
allegedly defrauding a government
program.
MediSys Health Network Inc., which
owns and operates Flushing Hospital
Medical Center and Jamaica Hospital
Medical Center, agreed to pay $4 million
to settle aft er it allegedly violated
the False Claims Act by engaging in
improper fi nancial relationships with
referring physicians.
“Health care providers who enter
into improper fi nancial relations
with referring physicians compromise
the referral process and encourage
over-utilization of services, to the
potential detriment of both patients
and taxpayers. We will hold health
care providers accountable for their
violations of federal law.” stated Acting
U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Rohde.
An investigation found that MediSys
Health Network Inc. had submitted
false claims to Medicare from patients
who were referred by physicians that
the company had improper fi nancial
relationships. Th ese relationships took
the form of compensation and offi ce
lease arrangements that did not comply
with the requirements of the Stark
Law, which restricts the fi nancial relationships
that hospitals may have with
doctors who refer patients to them.
Th e allegations were brought to light
by the government when a complaint
was fi led in regards to the qui tam provisions
of the False Claims Act. Under
this act, private citizens can sue on
behalf of the United States and share
in any recovery.
“Th is recovery should help to deter
other health care providers from entering
into improper fi nancial relationships
with physicians that can taint
the physicians’ medical judgment, to
the detriment of patients and taxpayers,”
said Acting Assistant Attorney
General Chad A. Readler of the Justice
Department’s Civil Division.
Shooting suspect crashes car
after South Ozone Park pursuit
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
He got away … for now.
Th e prime suspect in a recent shooting
and robbery in South Ozone Park was spotted
by cops in the neighborhood on Sept.
13, and he crashed his ride into a bus while
fl eeing from them, according to police.
Law enforcement sources said detectives
from the 106th Precinct Detective
Squad spotted the unidentifi ed suspect
driving in the vicinity of Leff erts
Boulevard and 111th Avenue at 8:37 p.m.
on Sept. 13.
Earlier this month, on the morning
of Sept. 4, the suspect shot a 44-yearold
man in the ankle while attempting
to rob him in the vicinity of 128th Street
and Sutter Avenue. Police said the gunman
grabbed chains off the victim’s neck
and fl ed inside a silver coupe that headed
southbound on 129th Street.
Sources familiar with the investigation
stated that detectives, upon seeing the
suspect on the night of Sept. 13, attempted
to pull the car over at the location.
Instead, the perpetrator tried to accelerate
away and wound up striking a bus and
a fi re hydrant. He then exited the vehicle
and fl ed on foot in an unknown direction.
Additional 106th Precinct offi cers
rushed to the scene; no serious injuries
were reported. Police launched a landand
air search for the suspect, but despite
their eff orts, no arrests were made.
Police sources said they were able to
obtain the suspect’s identifi cation, and
that “it’s only a matter of time” before he
is caught.
Th e NYPD described the suspect as a
male with a dark complexion in his 20s
standing 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighing
160 pounds. He was last seen on
Wednesday night wearing a gray T-shirt
and green pants.
Anyone with information regarding the
suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call
Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit
their website, www.nypdcrimestoppers.
com, or send a text message to 274637
(CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls
and messages are kept confi dential.
Edison High School gets new solar-powered carport
BY ANTHONY GIUDICE
agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com
@A_GiudiceReport
Students at one Jamaica high school
helped cut the ribbon on an innovative
and environmentally friendly new feature
added to their school: a solar carport for
the driver’s education program.
The Department of Citywide
Administrative Services (DCAS) has
continued its partnership with Th omas
Edison Career and Technical Education
High School to open the free-standing
solar carport to 165-65 84th Ave., which
will use solar power to charge two electric
cars to be used in the school’s driver’s
education program.
“Our partnership with DCAS has created
new innovation pathways in STEM
and a tremendous amount of workforce
capital at Th omas Edison CTE HS,” said
Principal Moses A. Ojeda. “Considering
that advances in energy effi ciency and
technology spurs innovation with global
impact, we are now fortunate enough to
be at the forefront with cost-effi cient electric
cars, solar-powered charging stations
and advanced computer electrical tools in
the hands of our students, all while promoting
a clean and healthy environment.”
Th e new solar carport and electric vehicles
are meant to not only teach students
how to safely operate a motor vehicle, but
also inform them about solar energy, sustainability
and other clean energy sources.
“NYC Fleet is a world leader in fl eet
sustainability and is leading a transition
to zero emission and sustainable fl eet
operations,” said DCAS Commissioner
Lisette Camilo. “Th ere is no better example
of the future we want to build than
today, at Th omas Edison High School in
Queens, with our drivers of tomorrow
starting out in all electric vehicles, powered
by the sun.”
To date, DCAS has provided seven high
schools with electric cars for driver’s education
classes. It has also donated an additional
19 vehicles for use in high school
automotive shops.
Photo by Mari Estrella/RHS News
Photo courtesy of DCAS
Photo caption: DCAS and Edison High School offi cials celebrate their new solar carport.