April 27, 2015
False Claims Act Legal News
The Small Business Administration maintains several programs and opportunities to help historically underserved communities and demographics. One such program is known as the Historically Underutilized Business Zone program, also known as the HUBZone program. Under HUBZone rules, preferential treatment may be available for potential business owners seeking to start or […]
April 24, 2015
False Claims Act Legal News
In 2010, Lance Armstrong’s former cycling teammate, Floyd Landis, filed a lawsuit against Armstrong under the False Claims Act. In essence, Landis’s claims centered on the nearly 30 million in taxpayer dollars given to the team during its sponsorship by the U.S. Postal Service – and the subsequent revelation that […]
April 23, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
In yesterday’s post, we examined the emerging concept known as ‘worthless services’ within the context of the False Claims Act. Under the FCA, a defendant may face liability for intentionally submitting claims for reimbursement to Medicare or Medicaid that are known to be false or based on false information. On […]
April 22, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
When it comes to committing fraud against Medicare and Medicaid, there are a number of ways for doctors, hospitals, and medical companies to get around the rules. Some encourage billing specialists to “upcode” for higher reimbursement rates, essentially billing Medicare or Medicaid for services never rendered. Others, quite alarmingly, perform […]
April 21, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
False Claims Act cases often conclude with a negotiated settlement between the Department of Justice (DOJ), defendant(s), and the relator(s). However, settlements are complex matters that contain a number of terms and provisions unique to each individual case.
April 20, 2015
SEC Fraud
Whistleblowers with knowledge of possible securities fraud are able to report this fraud confidentially under the relatively new whistleblower provisions of the 2010 Dodd Frank Act. If an employee opts to report the information directly to the government, he or she is thereafter protected from retaliatory maneuvers by the employer […]
April 16, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
Amid global shortages of life-saving medical resources, the United Nations’ World Health Organization has released a report focusing on various cost-saving tactics for member nations to consider while strategizing medical policy. At the heart of the matter, the WHO found that most nations do not have procedures in place to […]
April 15, 2015
Student Loan Fraud
Over the past several years, a number of colleges and universities have faced significant fines, penalties, and liabilities for unlawfully inducing students into enrolling using falsified or exaggerated graduation and employment data or by paying recruiters by the enrollee. For instance, several U.S. law schools were named in a recent […]
April 14, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
Walgreens Pharmacy has been in business for over 100 years, but its century-long business presence cannot insulate it from the onslaught of False Claims Act allegations raised by several California pharmacists alleging serious violations of state fraud laws. In today’s post, we look at two recent milestones in the ongoing […]
April 13, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio recently negotiated a $10 million settlement with Robinson Health System amid allegations of illegal kickbacks. The defendant is a health system management company, which operates a non-profit entity in Portage County, Ohio. The settlement comes on the heels of several […]
April 10, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
The ongoing off-label marketing debate has given rise to several False Claims Act lawsuits commenced by a single whistleblower. In a qui tam cause of action filed in November, 2009, whistleblower Frank Solis has alleged that Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Merck, Inc. engaged in the controversial sales technique known as off-label […]
April 9, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
In a recent healthcare fraud settlement, Adventist Health System – Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation has agreed to pay $5.4 million to settle allegations it improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid for radiology services. The settlement concludes an investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Civil […]