Millennium Health To Pay $256 Million To Resolve Claims Of Unnecessary Tests.

"Millennium Health LLC agreed to pay $256 million to resolve claims that it misrepresented the need for procedures and offered gifts to doctors in exchange for referrals.The biggest U.S. lab-testing company now plans to file for bankruptcy protection by Nov. 10, enabling it to turn over control of the business to its lenders, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The company has given the restructuring proposal to the holders of its $1.8 billion term loan and sent a copy to lawyers at the U.S. Department of Justice who are handling the settlement of the government’s case, said the person, who asked not to be named because the information isn’t public. Millennium will need to file its Chapter 11 petition with a bankruptcy court by Nov. 10, according to copies of resolved cases against the company that were unsealed Monday.

The payment will resolve allegations that Millennium violated the False Claims Act by having doctors order unnecessary urine, drug and genetic testing, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement on Monday. The government accuses Millennium, a provider of urine-testing services to monitor prescription drug use and potential abuse, of misrepresenting to doctors the necessity of an $1,800 genetic test for pain management patients."

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