Anti-Kickback and Stark

December 1, 2017

Pine Creek Medical Center LLC, a physician-owned hospital serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area, agreed to pay $7.5 million to resolve claims it violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute by paying physicians kickbacks in the form of marketing services in exchange for surgical referrals.  Specifically, Pine Creek allegedly paid for advertisements on behalf of the physicians as well as radio and television advertising, pay-per-click advertising campaigns, billboards, website upgrades, brochures, and business cards, and other forms of marketing to induce physicians to refer patients to Pine Creek for medical services.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by former Pine Creek employees Suzanne Scott and Savannah Sogar.  They will receive a whistleblower award of $1,125,000 from the proceeds of the government's recovery.  DOJ

November 17, 2017

Meadows Regional Medical Center, Inc. agreed to pay up to $12,875,000 to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law by submitting claims referred by physicians with whom Meadows had improper compensation arrangements.  DOJ (SDGA)

November 16, 2017

Four San Diego-area nursing homes owned by Los Angeles-based Brius Management Co. agreed to pay as much as $6.9 million to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickbacks Statute by paying kickbacks for patient referrals to discharge planners at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego.  The four nursing homes involved are Point Loma Convalescent Hospital, Brighton Place – San Diego, Brighton Place – Spring Valley, and Amaya Springs Health Care Center.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Viki Bell-Manako, a former employee of one of the Brius nursing homes.  She will receive a whistleblower award of 20% of the proceeds of the government's recovery.  DOJ (CDCA)

October 20, 2017

Jacksonville-based toxicology lab Total Lab Care, LLC agreed to pay $212,500 to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute by improperly paying a physician for referring toxicology samples.  DOJ (MDFL)

October 4, 2017

Four Houston-area hospitals agreed to pay $8.6 million to settle allegations they violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute by receiving kickbacks from various ambulance companies in exchange for rights to the hospitals’ more lucrative Medicare and Medicaid transport referrals.  The hospitals are all affiliated with Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America include Bayshore Medical Center, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, West Houston Medical Center and East Houston Regional Medical Center.  The allegations originated in two whistleblower lawsuits filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  The whistleblowers will receive an award from the proceeds of the government's recovery. DOJ (SDTX)