December 8, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In the context of False Claims Act lawsuits, there is much to be said about the initial complaint stage. As you recall, Circuit Courts of Appeal are split as to the level of specificity required for a False Claims Act filing. Some courts have concluded that Federal Rule of Civil […]
December 5, 2014
Medicaid Fraud
In a rare False Claims Act settlement involving dental care, an Oklahoma-based dentist has agreed to pay $5 million to settle claims of false invoices to the federal government for dental services. The company, which actually operates facilities in seven U.S. states, is alleged to have engaged in the familiar […]
December 4, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In yet another instance of costly and wasteful healthcare fraud, CareAll Management, LLC has agreed to pay $25 million to resolve allegations of illegal upcoding and falsification of information on official requests for reimbursement. In the context of healthcare fraud, the False Claims Act is triggered whenever an invoice is […]
December 3, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
For individuals in need of long-term care (i.e., a permanent stay in a nursing home), the options are to either self-fund the monthly charge or to apply for Medicaid benefits. As Medicare does not cover long-term care, patients in need of this vital service must be eligible by showing financial […]
December 2, 2014
Environmental Fraud
In a rare False Claims Act settlement involving the Environmental Protection Agency, a superfund contractor has agreed to pay $2.72 million to resolve various allegations involving misconduct by employees. Under the False Claims Act, any person with original information about fraud involving federal funds may come forward under the False […]
December 1, 2014
Grant Fraud
Every year, the federal government puts billions of dollars toward medical research in the form of grants. Many of these grants are awarded to medical schools and research universities in order to advance efforts toward finding better treatments or possible cures for conditions like cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and various […]
November 28, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
The False Claims Act is not limited only to domestic instances of fraud against the government. To the contrary, companies headquartered in other countries are routinely targeted for fraud investigations, including a recent False Claims Act case against a Netherlands-based drug company now owned by the more familiar corporation Merck. […]
November 27, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
Biotronik, Inc., a medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay $4.9 million to settle claims it unlawfully engaged in kickback schemes and prohibited financial arrangements in violation of the False Claims Act and its terms forbidding kickback schemes pertaining to Medicare and Medicaid patients. The company settled with the Department […]
November 26, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
New Jersey-based Biomet, Inc. has agreed to pay $6.07 million to settle False Claims Act allegations involving kickbacks pertaining to its bone growth stimulator products. Under the False Claims Act, any medical device manufacturer, drug company, hospital, or medical professional may face possible liability if Medicare or Medicaid patients are […]
November 25, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
Houston-based One Step Diagnostic, which operates several medical imaging diagnostic centers around Houston, Texas, has agreed to pay $2.6 million to the federal government in order to settle claims it engaged in unlawful kickbacks and inappropriate financial relationships in violation of the False Claims Act and federal Stark Law. The […]
November 20, 2014
False Claims Act Legal News
We have covered the False Claims Act evidentiary standard from a number of different angles. At the pleadings phase of these cases, there is a near 50/50 split between the circuit courts as to the specificity of alleged fraud necessary to overcome a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of […]
November 19, 2014
Contractor Fraud
As we have steadily reported over the past couple months, the False Claims Act case against Trinity Industries has resulted in a tumultuous trial, mistrial, $175 million verdict, and the possibility for a treble damages imposition of $525 million. In the latest procedural milestone in the case, United States District […]