September 9, 2020

West Virginia-based acute care hospital, Wheeling Hospital, Inc., has agreed to pay $50 million to resolve claims of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute, Physician Self-Referral (Stark) Law, and False Claims Act.  According to a former executive turned whistleblower, Louis Longo, Wheeling knowingly provided referring physicians with compensation above fair market value, based on the volume or value of their referrals, then submitted claims resulting from those improper referrals to Medicare.  As part of the settlement, Longo will receive a $10 million relator’s share.  DOJ; USAO WDPA; USAO NDWV

Tagged in: Anti-Kickback and Stark, FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Medicare, Provider Fraud, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,