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COVID-19

This archive displays posts tagged as relevant to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic. You may also be interested in the following pages:

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Let’s Talk about Nursing Homes – Who Will Raise the Red Flag Now That Routine Inspections Are Halted?

Posted  05/14/20
nurse checking on elder woman
In March 2020, the federal government abruptly paused non-emergency inspections of some 15,300 nursing homes and other long-term healthcare facilities nationwide in order to focus on preparations to respond to the threat of COVID-19 pandemic.  This triage means that an on-site survey will be authorized only in cases of “immediate jeopardy” of serious harm (e.g., abuse) or reported infection-control...

COVID Frauds of the Week: First Charges for Fraud on the PPP

Posted  05/8/20
Handcuffed business-leader walking through jail.
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, so too do the reports of brazen fraud against the vulnerable and the government programs designed to help them.  Like last week, here in our new feature we will focus on some noteworthy trends in government enforcement in this unfortunate new area of fraud.

Fraud on Government Spending

Notably, we have seen the first of what will undoubtedly be many government enforcement actions...

Keeping Our Eyes Open for COVID-19 Fraud

Posted  05/1/20
coronavirus-map
The COVID-19 pandemic is shaping the way we live around the world and dominating headlines.  Inevitably, it will be a major focus for government enforcement agencies.  The whistleblower team at Constantine Cannon is closely tracking reports of fraud in the Coronavirus response. This week, we launched a new webpage as a hub for COVID-19 fraud news.  We encourage you to visit this page, which will be updated...

COVID Frauds of the Week: Misrepresented Mask Inventories and Medicare Fraud

Posted  05/1/20
N95 Masks
Amid COVID-19-induced fear and hardship, fraud is on the rise. Already, the FTC has received over 18,000 reports of COVID-19 related fraud. In response, the SEC, CFTC, and other regulators announced they are on the lookout for pandemic-related fraud, and the DOJ warned would-be wrongdoers that it will not tolerate profiting off of public panic. This week, we focus on three enforcement actions brought by the...

Antitrust Violations, COVID-19, and the False Claims Act

Posted  04/23/20
whistle hanging on rope
As the federal government spends trillions of dollars to fight the coronavirus pandemic and alleviate its economic fallout, we can expect to see large chunks of that money misused and misappropriated by bad actors.  Now more than ever, we’ll need whistleblowers to come forward to report what they see on the ground, whether it’s an unqualified company seeking Paycheck Protection Program funds intended for small...

Constantine Cannon Attorneys Call on Whistleblowers to Help Guard the Floodgates of Fraud

Posted  04/17/20
Schnell, Gordon and Voldman, Max Attorney Headshots
No matter how dire the issues facing the country, whenever the government hangs out a sign advertising free money, it invites rampant fraud.  News stories already abound of fraudsters preying on coronavirus fears, and the massive stimulus expenditures by the federal government, necessary as they are, will require enormous oversight to prevent fraudulent claims. With the government injecting $2 trillion into the...

The Paycheck Protection Program is a Big Solution to a Big Problem, but it Needs Big Oversight

Posted  04/10/20
man-pocketing-cash-into-his-suit-pocket
It’s no secret that our local bodegas, corner nail salons, and go-to restaurants are in trouble. The unprecedented nationwide stay-home initiatives may be flattening the curve, but they’re also threatening to bankrupt millions of small businesses and their employees. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act aims to address this problem with numerous programs, including the Paycheck Protection...

What is an IG and Why do IGs Matter to Whistleblowers and in the COVID-19 Response?

Posted  04/10/20
Hand with magnifying glass and pencil examining books and records
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, and the government rolls out massive spending programs and regulatory changes in response, there has been significant news about inspectors general.  Inspectors General – IGs – and the teams that work for them, often referred to as the Office of the Inspector General or OIG, play a critical role in preventing mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs.  Iowa...

Charges Filed in Shameful COVID-19 and Genetic-Cancer-Screening Test Scam

Posted  04/3/20
doctor-mask
Erik Santos of Braselton, Georgia had run a fraudulent genetic cancer-screening-test scheme for months, then spotted an opportunity capitalize on fear surrounding COVID-19.  According to the criminal complaint, Santos targeted elderly persons to determine if they met certain eligibility requirements for testing under government health-care programs.  He passed the information along to co-conspirator testing...

The Missing Ventilator Stockpile Was Not Inevitable

Posted  04/3/20
By Sarah “Poppy” Alexander
Hospital Building Sign
The coronavirus crisis has been a crash course for the general public in how lifesaving ventilators work.  But the federal government has long known how crucial they are and how important it is to be able to stockpile sufficient numbers.  Five years ago, the government tried to plan ahead by commissioning the design and production of a low-cost ventilator to build up public and private stores in case an...
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