July 4, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Medical Clinic Named in $24M Plastic Surgery Settlement

Tower Wound Care Center of Santa Monica Inc. Was Named as One of Several Entities That Falsified the Place of Service and Fraudulent Billing in an Almost $24 Million Settlement.

By Zach Armstrong

Tower Wound Care Center of Santa Monica Inc. was named as one of several entities that falsified the place of service and fraudulent billing in an almost $24 million settlement involving a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. 

The $23.9 million settlement resolved allegations that the Santa Monica center along with Dr. Joel Aronowitz; Daniel Aronowitz; Joel A. Aronowitz, M.D. medical corporation; Tower Multi-Specialty Medical Group, Tower Outpatient Surgery Center Inc. and Tower Medical Billing Solutions falsified the place of service for skin grafts and billed single-use skin substitute products multiple times.

The U.S. believes the parties increased reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid by manipulating the place of service code on skin graft claims. It also contends Dr. Aronowitz didn’t dispose of skin graft materials so they could be used in procedures for other Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This led to thousands of instances of double billing.

Those actions violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to both Medicare and Medicaid.

“When health care providers violate federal health care program requirements, they undermine the integrity of these programs and waste taxpayer dollars,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said in a release. “This settlement demonstrates the Department’s commitment to preventing providers from misappropriating public funds for their own private gain.”

Dr. Aronowitz and Tower Multi-Specialty Medical Group have been voluntarily excluded from Medicare, Medicaid and all other federal health care programs for 15 years. Daniel Aronowitz, his son, is excluded for three.

Because the state of California paid for a portion of the Medicaid claims, it will receive approximately $497,619 from the settlement.

in News
<>Related Posts

Col. Eric Swenson Honored by LA for Historic Debris Removal Effort

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Swenson, with a distinguished military background including a Ph.D. and multiple master’s degrees from Penn State and other institutions, has...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles. Go...

(Video) Gladstone’s Malibu Prepares for Reopening after Surviving Palisades Fires

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

With One Half of its Structure Slightly Charred and Undergoing Repairs, Gladstone’s Malibu is Reopening its Patio Space Just in...

Santa Monica Public Library Launches Community Mapping Survey

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

The initiative aims to shape the library’s programs and services to better meet community needs, fostering an inclusive and accessible...

Third Street Promenade Loses Bibibop Asian Grill

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Bibibop opened at the Santa Monica location in 2017 after taking over a former ShopHouse space Bibibop Asian Grill, a...

Proposed Rebuilding Authority for Wildfire Recovery Sparks Local Control Debate

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Plan Aims to Streamline Rebuilding but Raises Questions Over Community Input A proposed “Resilient Rebuilding Authority” to oversee recovery from...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150 National Guard...

(Video) ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Champion Pulls Big Blue Bus for 30 feet

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

World-class strongman Martins Licis pulled a 34,680‑pound, 35-feet long, battery electric bus through the Pier to set off Pier 360...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

More Commercial Uses Could Be Coming to RAND Building

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Amendment Unlocks New Opportunities, Secures $5.5 Million in Community Benefits The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to...

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...