NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- New Jersey's state medical school hired cardiologists for no-show jobs in return for referrals to its cardiac surgery program, a federal monitor alleges.
Herbert Stern, a former federal judge, also accused the school's interim president, who was brought in to clean up the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, with trying to hide the scheme, The New York Times reported. Stern said he learned of it from an item in a legal journal about a settlement between the school and a whistleblower.
The kickback scheme began in 2002 because UMDNJ was concerned that too few procedures were being done in its cardiac surgery unit, Stern alleged. He said 18 cardiologists were paid about $6 million for doing nothing except referring patients.
The school is under investigation for Medicaid fraud. There are also allegations that state Sen. Wayne Bryant was given a no-show job, the report said.
