Darien drops Covid testing vendor amid billing concerns

The town government in Darien is dropping Murphy Medical Associates as its Covid-19 testing vendor after a New York Times article uncovered evidence of billing irregularities by the Greenwich-based company.

The Times”™ investigation found 11 patients who claimed Murphy Medical Associates attached fees for unnecessary tests to the examinations, a practice known as “upcoding” that comes with high reimbursement charges. The examinations were conducted at a public testing site set up by the town in a train station parking lot.

Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson and Health Director David Knauf issued a statement that acknowledged Murphy Medical Associates and its founder, Dr. Steven Murphy, for filling a “critical void in our community early in the pandemic,” but also noted that the “insurance billing allegations are separate and distinct from the quality or timeliness of the service provided which, from community feedback received, has been consistently positive.”

While chiding Murphy for not displaying a “greater level of transparency,” Stevenson and Knauf added the town is “exploring alternate testing options as we recognize the importance of this service to our community. We expect to make an announcement very soon.”