A North Shore ophthalmologist and his company have agreed to pay $55,000 to settle allegations that they submitted false claims to Medicare.

The government alleged that between January 2010 and December 2014, Martin E. Cutler M.C. and his practice, Martin E. Cutler M.D., P.C., falsely billed Medicare for ophthalmic diagnostic imaging when there was no underlying diagnosis. They also allegedly billed Medicare for office visits where a prior claim for the same visit had been denied and the new claim was not supported by Cutler’s documentation.

The settlement resolves allegations filed by a whistleblower, Brian Sachs.

The case is United States, et al., ex rel. Brian D. Sachs v. Martin E. Cutler, M.D., and Martin E. Cutler, M.D., P.C., d/b/a Cutler Eye & Skin Center, No. 14-11879-IT. The False Claims Act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the federal government will pay the whistleblower $11,000 from the settlement amount.