Whistleblower Insider is written by the Constantine Cannon law firm team of experienced qui tam and whistleblower lawyers. It is updated regularly to provide the latest whistleblower and fraud news and developments.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
A Staggering Number of NYC Housing Authority Employees Charged with Bribery, Extortion
Posted 02/7/24
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...
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...
Top Ten Non-Healthcare False Claims Act Recoveries for 2023
Posted 01/30/24
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...
Top Ten Healthcare False Claims Act Recoveries for 2023
Posted 01/30/24
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...
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...