By Steve Kardell | Published February 16, 2023 | Posted in Employee Rights | Tagged Tags: False Claims Act, IRS whistleblower program, SEC whistleblower |
Whistleblowers are one of the most effective tools against corporate or government fraud and misconduct. There are many programs available, which not only provide protection against retaliation, but may also provide rewards for speaking up. Here are some of the programs currently available. False Claims Act The Department of Justice uses the FCA to prosecute Read More
Read MoreA physician, his son and their medical practice agreed to pay the U.S. $980,000 to resolve allegations arising from the False Claims Act. The pair allegedly submitted medically unnecessary urine tests to receive additional payments. The claim arose from a new U.S. Attorney’s office effort, which reviews Medicare billing data. When the unit discovered the Read More
Read MoreWhite collar crime costs the United States about $300 billion dollars per year—and most Americans don’t even realize it. Because white collar crime is typically nonviolent, it doesn’t get the same kind of attention that others do. Whistleblower suits are often very effective in rooting out this kind of corruption. What is white collar crime? Read More
Read MoreA Cincinnati surgeon has filed a lawsuit against the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, claiming he was retaliated against when he raised concerns about a colleague’s fitness. Dr. Charles Mehlman claims he was targeted by hospital leadership and two other doctors who served on the “professional provider evaluation committee” after he spoke out. Case background Read More
Read MoreEpic, a medical billing software service, has been accused of prompting hundreds of hospitals across the country to double-bill Medicaid and Medicare for anesthesia services. This resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent payments. The recently unsealed lawsuit was originally filed in 2015, and the federal government declined to intervene in the case. Read More
Read MoreA rehabilitative therapy business in Georgia, along with its founder, has been ordered to pay $9.6 million in damages for submitting nearly 800 false health care claims. Case background Middle Georgia Family Rehab LLC, along with owner/CEO Brenda Hicks, are jointly liable for 796 false claims submitted to TRICARE and Medicaid. The defendants were paid Read More
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Justice recently announced two settlements of qui tam lawsuits under the False Claims Act, which allows private individuals to file lawsuits on behalf of the government when they become aware of fraud committed by companies or individuals. Here’s a brief overview of these settlements. Healthkeeperz, Inc. Healthkeeperz, Inc., a behavioral healthcare Read More
Read MoreTracFone Wireless Inc., a Miami-based telecommunications carrier, will pay $13.4 million to settle allegations of False Claims Act violations. The case was originally brought by a whistleblower, Farrell Gordon, who will receive $462,500 in compensation for his services in bringing the case forward. Whistleblowers in False Claims Act cases are eligible to receive 15 to Read More
Read MoreThe U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania recently announced it initiated a lawsuit against family medical doctor Peter J. Baddick, III over allegations of medically unnecessary prescriptions for Subsys, a fentanyl-based spray used for cancer pain. Case background In the complaint, the federal government alleges Dr. Baddick violated the False Claims Act Read More
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Justice recently revealed that 2021 was a major year for False Claims Act settlements and judgments. According to the DOJ, the federal government took in more than $5.6 billion in settlements and judgments, the largest since 2014 and the second-largest amount ever recorded. This number includes the gigantic $2.8 billion Purdue Read More
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