Archive

Healthcare Management Corporation to Pay $4M to Resolve False Claims Act Charges

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Maryland-based CVR Management, LLC, the Center for Vein Restoration, Center for Vascular Medicine (CVM), LLC, and Sanjiv Lakhanpal, MD, FACS (the entities’ CEO and president and CVM’s chairman of the board), agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for medically unnecessary...

Mississippi Resident to Pay $31M for Alleged Involvement in Healthcare Kickback Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On March 19, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that the government secured a civil judgment against Mississippi resident Robert L. Crites for allegedly orchestrating a commission-based referral scheme in violation of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute. The scheme targeted federal healthcare programs.[1] A federal judge entered...

Cardiology Group to Pay $4.75M to Settle Allegations of Unnecessary Vein Procedures

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team  On March 12, an Arizona-based physician group Tri-City Cardiology, P.C. and three physicians agreed to pay $4.75 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by performing medically unnecessary vein procedures. [1]

What Does the Civil Settlement Address?

The civil settlement resolves claims that from January 1, 2017, through April 27, 2022,...

Former NFL Player Turned Lab Owner Convicted in $328 Million Genetic Testing Fraud Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team  In February, a federal jury in Texas convicted lab owner Keith J. Gray, a former NFL player, for his role in a $328 million genetic testing fraud scheme involving two clinical labs he owned and operated: Axis Professional Labs LLC (Axis) and Kingdom Health Laboratory LLC (Kingdom).[1] The jury found Gray guilty of (1) conspiracy to defraud the United States and to...

Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates Pays $4.75M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Medical Testing Services

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team To resolve allegations of kickbacks and medically unnecessary services, Georgia-based Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates agreed to pay a False Claims Act settlement of $4.75 million.[1]

The Alleged Scheme: Unnecessary Medical Testing and Lab Services Kickbacks

According to the United States, starting around May 2017, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates contracted...

Top 10 Healthcare-Related False Claims Act Recoveries in 2025

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Last year was a record year for False Claims Act recoveries.  As the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported in its 2025 False Claims Act Roundup, the $6.9 billion the Government recovered in 2025 was the most for any single year under the statute. Unsurprisingly, more than 80% of this amount (or $5.7 billion) came from matters involving healthcare-related fraud.  It...

Florida Nursing Assistant Convicted in $11.4M Medicare Fraud Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On January 22, a federal jury convicted Florida-based nursing assistant and durable medical equipment (DME) supplier owner Christian “Chris” Cruz for his role in an $11.4 million healthcare fraud and wire fraud conspiracy.[1]

What Was the Alleged Scheme?

According to prosecutors, Cruz  submitted false claims for hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries and they were...

Two Plead Guilty to $68M Brooklyn Adult Day Care and Home Healthcare Fraud Scheme

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On January 15, Elaine Antao and Manal Wasef pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud Medicaid by offering kickbacks for services not rendered at two Brooklyn social adult day cares and a home healthcare company. The proceedings took place before United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle in federal court in Brooklyn. Each defendant faces up to 10 years in...

Whistleblower-Initiated Case: DOJ Files FCA Complaint Against Priority Hospital Group and Three LTCHs

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On January 16, the government filed a False Claims Act complaint against Priority Hospital Group LLC (PHG), a Louisiana-based hospital management company, three PHG-managed long term care hospitals, and a doctor alleging they submitted false claims for medically unnecessary care and engaged in improper patient referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback and Stark Law.

Traditions Health Pays $34M to Settle False Claims Act Charges of Medically Unnecessary Home Health Services

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Last Thursday (January 22), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Tennessee-based Traditions Health agreed to pay $34 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law by billing Medicare for medically unnecessary home health services and paying kickbacks to physicians in exchange for referrals.[1] ...