Episcopal Ministries to the Aging Inc. to Pay Millions in False Claims Act Settlement

A Maryland-based, not-for-profit skilled nursing corporation, known as Episcopal Ministries to the Aging, Inc. (EMA), has agreed to pay $1.3 million to the federal government to settle allegations it defrauded Medicare by making false claims for reimbursement on behalf of patients within several of its facilities. EMA, a nursing home management […]

Tennessee’s Meridian Surgical Partners to Pay $5.12 Million to Settle False Claims Act Lawsuit

Brentwood, Tennessee-area surgical center management company Meridian Surgical Partners has agreed to pay a total of $5.12 million to settle allegations of healthcare fraud. Healthcare fraud continues to reign as the top-grossing area of recovery under the False Claims Act, and the Department of Health and Human Services – in […]

Department of Justice Takes Aim at Physician Investors in Anti-Kickback Crackdown

We recently reported on the government’s decision to intervene in a False Claims Act lawsuit against spinal surgeon Aria Sabit, which involved allegations of medically unnecessary spinal fusion operations in exchange for kickbacks from the Reliance Medical Group. In a simultaneous and related event, the Department of Justice filed its […]

Eighth Circuit Adds to Rule 9(b) Confusion in Thayer v. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that the federal Courts of Appeal are engaged in a near-even split with regard to the applicability of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) in the False Claims Act context. In general, a civil plaintiff must set forth general facts in a complaint […]

Neurosurgeon Facing False Claims Act Liability Following Unnecessary Spinal Implant Procedures

It’s another instance of healthcare fraud involving the federal Medicare and Medicaid systems. A prominent California neurosurgeon, his associates, and their distributorship network – Reliance Medical Systems LLC – are facing significant possible liability under the False Claims Act for engaging in unnecessary procedures in order to pad revenue. The […]