March 17, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
As we have previously reported on this blog, hospice care fraud is one of the major emerging trends facing the federal and state governments, costing millions of tax dollars annually in misspending and waste. In today’s case, we review a settlement involving a New York-based hospice center, which has agreed […]
March 16, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
In a landmark healthcare fraud case, one Louisiana-based cardiologist recently closed the books on a concurrent criminal-civil crackdown on his fraudulent billing and accounting practices. The doctor, along with two medical offices, recently settled the civil False Claims Act side of the matter. The settlement occurred nearly seven years after […]
March 13, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
In 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice settled a major kickback case involving the pharmaceutical giant Teva Pharmaceuticals. As you may recall, Teva Pharmaceuticals was alleged to have offered lucrative kickbacks in the form of “consulting fees,” vacations, and other incentives to psychiatrists and treating physicians in exchange for their […]
March 12, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
The scheme at issue in today’s post may get points for creativity, but it wasn’t enough to evade the healthcare fraud task force charged with punishing and deterring wasteful and illegal misconduct. In today’s case, we discuss a recent settlement involving two South Florida healthcare practitioners and their wives accused […]
March 11, 2015
Customs Fraud
Three U.S.-based importers of aluminum products, including California-based C.R. Laurence Co. Inc., Florida-based Southeastern Aluminum Products Inc., and Texas-based Waterfall Group LLC have agreed to pay a total of $3 million to settle allegations of evading proper customs payments for the importation of aluminum extrusions from China. Companies that cheat […]
March 10, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
Known as the “purple pill,” AstraZeneca’s Nexium is a breakthrough drug targeting the symptoms of acid reflux disease, including painful and damaging esophageal burning and pain. However, according to recent allegations revealed in a Department of Justice press release, the company may have gone to too far to ensure its […]
March 9, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
The False Claims Act has proven extremely successful in combating wasteful healthcare fraud. In fact, fiscal year 2014 proved so far to be the most lucrative year in terms of healthcare fraud settlements and verdicts. To trigger possible liability under the False Claims Act, a whistleblower must allege that certain […]
March 4, 2015
Rule 9(b)
The federal False Claims Act can apply to just about any act of fraud involving taxpayer dollars, including the systematic abuse of government funds at the hands of a wayward cycling team – headed by none other than the disgraced former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. In 2013, a […]
March 3, 2015
False Claims Act Legal News
When it comes to False Claims Act lawsuits, there are a number of confidentiality protections in place that are not generally required in a typical civil lawsuit. For instance, relators are required to file their lawsuit under seal and keep the details of the claims confidential until the defendant has […]
March 2, 2015
Contractor Fraud
In a recent False Claims Act settlement, California contractors Arbon and its subsidiary Rite-Hite have agreed to pay $4 million to settle claims of unlawful wage practices involving its employees. Under the False Claims Act, it is considered a violation for a contractor to breach the terms of its agreement […]
February 27, 2015
Medicaid Fraud
The Medicaid program is a need-based health insurance program run by the federal and state governments. In most instances, the federal government matches state funding dollar-for-dollar. However, states generally have latitude in determining the type, extent and frequency of services covered. In Illinois, certain medical transport services (aside from emergency […]
February 26, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
In yet another healthcare fraud settlement, Tennessee-based Ageless Men’s Health has been targeted by the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Department of Justice, for fraudulently billing Medicare and TRICARE for medically unnecessary male hormone therapy services. When treating patients enrolled in government healthcare programs, certain […]