Archive

October 3, 2016

California orthopedic clinics Orthopedic Associates of Northern California, San Bernardino Medical Orthopaedic Group Inc. (doing business as Arrowhead Orthopaedics) and Reno Orthopaedic Clinic agreed to pay a combined $2.39 million to resolve federal and state False Claims Act allegations that they improperly billed federal and state health care programs for reimported osteoarthritis medications, known as viscosupplements.  According to the government, the clinics purchased deeply discounted viscosupplements that were reimported from foreign countries and billed them to state and federal health care programs in order to profit from the reimbursement system, when such reimported viscosupplements were not reimbursable by those programs.  The reimported products allegedly included labeling in foreign languages and in English for additional uses not approved in the United States.  The government further alleged there was no manufacturer assurance that the drugs had not been tampered with or that it was stored appropriately.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by a Senior Musculoskeletal Specialty Manager in the Biosurgery Division of Sanofi S.A.  The whistleblower will receive a whistleblower award of approximately $430,000 from the proceeds of the government's recovery.  DOJ (EDCA)

September 30, 2016

A $6.15 million judgment was entered against Maryland-based home health care agency Speqtrum Inc. for violating the False Claims Act through a "massive and routine pattern of fraud by high-level employees" including the forging of necessary signatures and the falsification of timesheets.  DOJ (DC)

September 28, 2016

Pennsylvania-based hospital chain Vibra Healthcare LLC agreed to $32.7 million to resolve claims it violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for medically unnecessary services.  According to the government, Vibra admitted numerous patients to five of its long term care hospitals and one of its inpatient rehab facilities who did not demonstrate signs or symptoms that would qualify them for admission.  In addition, Vibra allegedly extended the stays of its long term care patients without regard to medical necessity, qualification and/or quality of care.  In some instances, Vibra allegedly ignored the recommendations of its own clinicians, who deemed these patients ready for discharge.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Sylvia Daniel, a former health information coder at Vibra Hospital of Southeastern Michigan, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  She will receive a whistleblower award of at least $4 million from the proceeds of the government's recovery.  Whistleblower Insider

September 27, 2016

Ralph J. Cox III, the former CEO South Carolina-based Tuomey Healthcare System, agreed to pay $1 million to settle charges of violating the Stark Law from his involvement in the hospital’s illegal Medicare and Medicaid billings for services referred by physicians with whom the hospital had improper financial relationships.  The illegal physician arrangements resulted in a $237.4 million judgment against Tuomey which DOJ ultimately resolved against Tuomey for payments totaling $72.4 million.  The hospital was subsequently sold to Palmetto Health, a multi-hospital healthcare system based in Columbia, South Carolina.  DOJ

October 17, 2016

New York has joined with other states and the federal government and reached agreement with institutional pharmacy Omnicare Inc. (Omnicare) to settle civil allegations that Omnicare conspired with Illinois-based pharmaceutical drug manufacturer Abbott Laboratories (Abbott) to increase overall utilization of the drug Depakote through the use of various disguised kickback arrangements. Omnicare, acquired by CVS Health Corporation effective August 18, 2015, provides pharmaceuticals and related pharmacy services to long-term care facilities as well as chronic care facilities and other settings. Depakote is approved for treatment of seizure disorders, mania associated with bipolar disorder and prophylaxis of migraines. Omnicare will pay the states and the federal government a total of $28.125 million in civil damages to compensate Medicaid, Medicare, and various other federal healthcare programs for harm suffered as a result of its conduct. NY

October 13, 2016

Twenty-nine defendants who sold Auravie, Dellure, LéOR Skincare, and Miracle Face Kit branded skincare products have agreed to court orders with the FTC or had default orders entered against them. Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said “these defendants tricked people into paying for skin care products and abused the credit card system to extend their scheme.” The agency’s original complaint, filed in June 2015, charged seven individuals and 15 companies with selling their skincare products through false advertisements for “risk-free trials.” According to the FTC, the defendants convinced consumers to provide their credit card information, purportedly to pay nominal shipping fees. However, the defendants allegedly used consumers’ credit card information to impose unauthorized recurring monthly charges of up to $97.88 per month for unordered products. FTC

October 5, 2016

A transportation company, its owner, and three managers have been indicted in connection with an alleged scheme involving $19 million in false claims billed to the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth), Attorney General Maura Healey announced. The company primarily provided MassHealth members with non-emergency transportation services to methadone clinics. The AG’s Office alleges that between April 2011 and September 2015, Westminster-based Rite Way LLC (Rite Way) fraudulently and repeatedly billed MassHealth for transportation services that were never provided, including claims for individuals who were hospitalized in inpatient settings, no longer used the company’s services, or were deceased on the claimed dates of service. MA

October 4, 2016

Pennsylvania announced the Office of Attorney General has reached a settlement with a chain of nursing homes accused of misleading consumers by failing to provide basic services to elderly and vulnerable residents. The settlement with Reliant Senior Care Holdings, Inc. and related companies requires a $2 million payment to the Office of Attorney General and a series of changes devised to make sure that staffing levels and care within facilities owned or operated by Reliant match the representations made in marketing materials, care plans and bills. The settlement was the result of an investigation conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Health Care Section. PA

September 30, 2016

New York announced guilty pleas by Katia Donnelly and her durable medical equipment and supply store, Bennett Surgical Supply, Inc., for submitting thousands of false claims to Medicaid resulting in Medicaid paying them more than two million dollars over a six and a half year period. Donnelly admitted during her plea that she used the Medicaid identification numbers of Bennett Surgical customers to fraudulently bill for items she never purchased or delivered to them. She and her corporation plead guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, and it is expected that Donnelly will be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in State Prison. NY

September 26, 2016

New York announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement with First Call, Inc., to resolve allegations that it billed Medicaid for transportation services provided by unqualified drivers and without required documentation. The investigation settled False Claims Act allegations that are identified in the settlement agreement, pursuant to a qui tam lawsuit filed by whistleblower Thomas D. Ayers asserting claims under the New York False Claims Act. As a result of the settlement, the company will pay New York State $173,650.83 in restitution and damages pursuant to the New York False Claims Act. NY