FCA Federal
This archive displays posts tagged as relevant to the federal False Claims Act. You may also be interested in the following pages:
December 4, 2018
Medical device-maker LivaNova USA, Inc. has agreed to pay $1.87 million to resolve claims that it paid improper kickbacks to physicians who were among the largest referrers of patients for LivaNova's implanted epilepsy device. The payments took the form of "speaking fees" for the doctors, although the doctors who received them were primarily speaking to their own staffs. Ashley Case, a former employee of LivaNova, initiated the investigation by filing a case under the False Claims Act; she will receive an unspecified share of the settlement. USAO NDGADecember 4, 2018
The New York law firm of Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, P.C., and two firms affiliated with it, have agreed to settle a False Claims Act action alleging that in performing legal work including foreclosure and eviction services for the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Veterans Administration, the entities submitted bills for costs that were not actual, reasonable, and necessary. Instead, the false claims for payment included improper mark-ups and other unauthorized charges. Defendants will pay a total of $6.1 million to the United States, and have agreed to implement a compliance program. The case was originally brought by whistleblower Peter D. Grubea. USAO SDNYDecember 3, 2018
Feng Qin, M.D., a vascular surgeon who in 2015 settled claims that he performed medically-unnecessary vascular surgeries, has again been charged with such unlawful practices. As reported by an unidentified whistleblower who brought a case under the False Claims Act, Qin routinely scheduled patients for surgeries months in advance, regardless of whether there was a justifiable clinical reason for the surgery. At times, Qin would alter medical records. Qin would then bill Medicare for these procedures, despite his knowledge that procedures on patients that are not medically reasonable and necessary are not covered by Medicare. USAO SDNYNovember 28, 2018
Dr. Thomas Baker, Dr. Carolyn Kochert, Dr. Larry L. Zhou, and Dr. Julie Y. Chao, have agreed to settle with the United States Government for violation of the Federal False Claims Act, the Physician Self-Referral law (“Stark”), and the Anti-Kickback Statute due to their involvement in a kickback scheme with Southwest Laboratories and Medscan Laboratory, thus causing false claims to be submitted to Medicare. The four physicians will pay a total amount of over $1.5 million. The individual amounts paid are as follows: Dr. Baker, of Tennessee - $484,481.80; Dr. Kochert, of Indiana - $129,682.84; Dr. Zhou, of Kentucky - $277,758.18; Dr. Chao, of Indiana - $650,000. DOJNovember 27, 2018
Twelve individuals have been charged by a federal grand jury in a 22-count indictment related to a multi-year conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid Home Care Program. The indictment lists a multitude of fraudulent acts by the defendants, alleging that they: submitted false claims for services that were not provided, misused consumers’ personal identifying information, provided false documentation during state audits, and even submitted claims to Medicaid for home care services for consumers who were hospitalized or no longer alive. Ten of the defendants reside in Western Pennsylvania, one is a resident of Georgia, and the twelfth defendant is a resident of South Carolina. Between January 2011 and April 2017, the conspirators, who owned and operated the home health care companies, received more than $87,000,000 in Medicaid payments. The conspiracy and health care fraud charges each carry a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. DOJNovember 26, 2018
Vital Energy Occupational Therapy and Wellness Center, LLC agreed to pay $200,000 to settle charges that between 2013 and 2016 it submitted false claims for physical and occupational therapy services. The therapy practice was alleged to have submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for individual therapy services, when group therapy was actually provided, and claims for therapy services with false practitioner information using the names of former employees. Whistleblower Ashley C. Baggett, who filed the False Claims Act action, will receive $36,000. USAO S.C.Catch of the Week — DOJ Nets 3 South Korean Companies in Bid Rigging Scheme
Posted 11/16/18
Three South Korean Companies to Pay $236 Million, Resolving Civil and Criminal Liability for Bid Rigging Alleged in Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Suit
Posted 11/14/18
