Whistleblower Insider Blog

In Their Own Words. . . .California Attorney General Rob Bonta

Posted 02/21/24

“At the California Department of Justice, we believe that the healthcare system should serve patients. Yet, too often, private equity has served corporate profiteers by maximizing their profits at the expense of access, quality, and affordability of healthcare for Californians.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s statement concerning recent legislation (AB 3129) introduced in California addressing...

Tagged in: In Their Own Words,

CFTC Anoints New Whistleblower Chief

Posted 02/16/24

Yesterday (February 15), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) named Brian Young as the new director of the CFTC’s Whistleblower Office. In doing so, the agency officially filled the vacancy left when former director Chris Ehrman stepped down in July. Mr. Young has big shoes to fill as under Director Ehrman's tenure, the CFTC saw tremendous growth in its Whistleblower Program, which provides sizable...

Tagged in: Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets,

Catch of the Week: Lincare, Inc.

Posted 02/16/24

This week's Department of Justice (DOJ) Catch of the Week goes to Lincare, Inc., a durable medical equipment supplier with locations throughout the country. Yesterday (February 15), the company agreed to pay $25.5 million to settle DOJ charges of violating the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for the rental of non-invasive ventilators (NIVs) when patients no longer needed or used them. DOJ also charged Lincare...

Tagged in: Catch of the Week, FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Lack of Medical Necessity, Medicaid, Medical Devices and DME, Medicare, Other Government Health Programs, Whistleblower Case,

CFTC Says Beware of Romance Scams

Posted 02/13/24

With Valentine's Day upon us, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) last week (February 8) issued an Advisory Alert warning for those seeking romance to tread carefully on dating apps and social media. Especially when it comes to strangers asking for financial support or giving investment advice. The CFTC urged particular caution with promotions for cryptocurrency investments because of the growing risk...

Tagged in: Cryptocurrency, Financial and Investment Fraud, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets,

Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Program Delay Raises Concerns Among U.S. Senators

Posted 02/8/24

In a call for accountability, a bipartisan trio of U.S. Senators, including Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), sent a letter to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director, Andrea Gacki, urging an explanation for the notable delays in the full implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering whistleblower reward program. Established under the 2021 annual...

Tagged in: Money Laundering,

A Staggering Number of NYC Housing Authority Employees Charged with Bribery, Extortion

Posted 02/7/24

businessmen shaking hands and other placing money in others pocket

In a massive takedown called the “largest single-day bribery takedown in the history of the Justice Department,” the DOJ recently unsealed “bribery and extortion charges against 70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (‘NYCHA’).” According to the DOJ, the NYCHA provides housing “to 1 in 17 New Yorkers” and receives “over $1.5 billion in federal funding.” When...

Tagged in: Bribery and Bid-Rigging,

Vatican Puts Out the Call for Whistleblowers

Posted 02/7/24

Vatican Building in Italy During Daytime

The Vatican wants to hear from whistleblowers. This comes from the Vatican's recent release of a new Whistleblower Procedure, which outlines the Vatican's official enlistment of Church insiders to help keep the Holy House in order when it comes to financial fraud and corruption. According to a post in Vatican News, the official news portal of the Vatican Holy See, the new procedure, which took effect last week...

Tagged in: Importance of Whistleblowers, International Whistleblowers, Whistleblower Eligibility,

Top Ten Non-Healthcare False Claims Act Recoveries for 2023

Posted 01/30/24

People Pointing to Contracts Making Decision

It was another big year for DOJ enforcement under the False Claims Act, the government's primary fraud-fighting tool. As usual, most of the recoveries were in the healthcare space with seven of the Top Ten recoveries involving various schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. See our Top Ten FCA and Top Ten Healthcare FCA listings. While healthcare recoveries dominated the Top Ten, two of the top five...

Tagged in: Customs Fraud, Education Fraud, FCA Federal, Government Procurement Fraud, Government Programs Fraud, Housing and Mortgage Fraud, Top 10,

Top Ten Healthcare False Claims Act Recoveries for 2023

Posted 01/30/24

Doctor Holding Stethoscope with Crossed Arms

This past year was another big year for DOJ enforcement under the False Claims Act, the government's primary fraud-fighting tool. And as we noted in our recent Top Ten listing of False Claims Act recoveries for 2023, all but 3 of the Top Ten recoveries were in the healthcare space involving various schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. So here is our look at the Top Ten healthcare recoveries for...

Tagged in: Anti-Kickback and Stark, FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Medicaid, Medical Billing Fraud, Medicare, Top 10, Whistleblower Case,

Catch of the Week: New York-Presbyterian Hospital

Posted 01/26/24

This week's Department of Justice (DOJ) Catch of the Week goes to New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Yesterday (January 25), the hospital agreed to pay $801,000 to settle charges it violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE for medically unnecessary images for radiation therapy treatments provided to cancer patients. The settlement is notable not for the relatively small amount of money...

Tagged in: Catch of the Week, FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Lack of Medical Necessity, Medicaid, Medicare, Other Government Health Programs, Whistleblower Case,

Have a Claim?