By Steve Kardell | Published April 25, 2023 | Posted in Fraud, Whistleblower Litigation | Tagged Tags: False Claims Act, medicaid billing, supreme court |
False Claims Act Litigation May Have ‘Seismic Impact’ at Supreme Court
False Claims Act litigation may have significant impact this year, as the Supreme Court decides which cases to hear. The Supreme Court has already accepted one False Claims Act case, and appears to be seriously considering another. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has been sinking FCA lawsuits at “an unprecedented pace.” How will that affect Read More
Read MoreBiggest Whistleblower Developments of 2022
2022 saw the government focus on whistleblower actions. From major settlements to expansions of whistleblower law, here are some of the major developments we saw in the previous year: Uber whistleblower: A former Uber executive gave the media over 124,000 sensitive documents, which he believed would reveal Uber’s wrongdoing in “dozens of countries,” including violations Read More
Read MoreWhistleblower Protection Programs in the United States
Whistleblowers are one of the most effective tools against corporate or government fraud and misconduct. There are many programs available, which not only provide protection against retaliation, but may also provide rewards for speaking up. Here are some of the programs currently available. False Claims Act The Department of Justice uses the FCA to prosecute Read More
Read MorePhysician Pays $980,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
A physician, his son and their medical practice agreed to pay the U.S. $980,000 to resolve allegations arising from the False Claims Act. The pair allegedly submitted medically unnecessary urine tests to receive additional payments. The claim arose from a new U.S. Attorney’s office effort, which reviews Medicare billing data. When the unit discovered the Read More
Read MoreWhite Collar Crime Costs Hundreds of Billions Each Year
White collar crime costs the United States about $300 billion dollars per year—and most Americans don’t even realize it. Because white collar crime is typically nonviolent, it doesn’t get the same kind of attention that others do. Whistleblower suits are often very effective in rooting out this kind of corruption. What is white collar crime? Read More
Read MoreSurgeon Claims Retaliation After Blowing the Whistle on Colleague
A Cincinnati surgeon has filed a lawsuit against the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, claiming he was retaliated against when he raised concerns about a colleague’s fitness. Dr. Charles Mehlman claims he was targeted by hospital leadership and two other doctors who served on the “professional provider evaluation committee” after he spoke out. Case background Read More
Read MoreUnsealed Whistleblower Lawsuit Accuses Epic of Double-Billing Anesthesia Services
Epic, a medical billing software service, has been accused of prompting hundreds of hospitals across the country to double-bill Medicaid and Medicare for anesthesia services. This resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent payments. The recently unsealed lawsuit was originally filed in 2015, and the federal government declined to intervene in the case. Read More
Read MoreRehabilitative Therapy Business Must Pay $9.6 Million in Damages
A rehabilitative therapy business in Georgia, along with its founder, has been ordered to pay $9.6 million in damages for submitting nearly 800 false health care claims. Case background Middle Georgia Family Rehab LLC, along with owner/CEO Brenda Hicks, are jointly liable for 796 false claims submitted to TRICARE and Medicaid. The defendants were paid Read More
Read MoreDepartment of Justice Announces Pair of False Claims Act Settlements
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced two settlements of qui tam lawsuits under the False Claims Act, which allows private individuals to file lawsuits on behalf of the government when they become aware of fraud committed by companies or individuals. Here’s a brief overview of these settlements. Healthkeeperz, Inc. Healthkeeperz, Inc., a behavioral healthcare Read More
Read MoreTelecom Will Pay $13.4 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
TracFone Wireless Inc., a Miami-based telecommunications carrier, will pay $13.4 million to settle allegations of False Claims Act violations. The case was originally brought by a whistleblower, Farrell Gordon, who will receive $462,500 in compensation for his services in bringing the case forward. Whistleblowers in False Claims Act cases are eligible to receive 15 to Read More
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