Florida Telemarketer Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for $67 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme -
On December 6, Jose Goyos was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in managing a deceptive telemarketing scheme to...more
12/16/2024
/ Beneficiaries ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Florida ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Insider Trading ,
Investors ,
Medicare Fraud ,
Money Laundering ,
Securities Fraud ,
Sentencing ,
Telemarketing ,
Wire Fraud
Welcome to the Fall 2024 issue of “FCA Enforcement & Compliance Digest,” our quarterly newsletter in which we compile essential updates on False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement trends, litigation, agency guidance, and compliance...more
12/10/2024
/ Advisory Opinions ,
Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Compliance ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Health Care Programs (FHCP) ,
Florida ,
Fraud ,
Health Technology ,
Healthcare ,
Manufacturers ,
Medicare Part D ,
OIG ,
Qui Tam ,
Risk Assessment ,
Settlement ,
Whistleblowers ,
White Collar Crimes
Seventh Circuit Considers When Legal Marketing Transforms Into Illegal Kickbacks -
On December 4, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit heard oral arguments regarding whether the January 2023 jury conviction of...more
12/9/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Appeals ,
Bribery ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Marketing ,
Medicare Fraud ,
Sentencing ,
TRICARE
Owner, Operator of Texas Lab Charged for $79 Million Medical Testing Fraud Scheme -
On November 20, Osman Syed, the owner and operator of a laboratory in Texas, was charged with three counts of health care fraud,...more
11/25/2024
/ Conspiracies ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Foreign Bank Accounts ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Home Health Care ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Testing ,
Medicare ,
Money Laundering ,
Sentencing ,
Settlement ,
Texas
UCHealth Settles FCA Violations for $23 Million -
On November 12, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that University of Colorado Health (UCHealth) agreed to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims...more
11/18/2024
/ Criminal Conspiracy ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Health Care Programs (FHCP) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Insurance Fraud ,
Investment Fraud ,
Medicare ,
Money Laundering ,
Pharmacist ,
Settlement ,
TRICARE ,
Wire Fraud
Judge Orders Government to Pay Relators a Cut of FCA Settlement -
On November 4, a federal judge from the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts ordered the government to pay the relators’ share of a...more
11/11/2024
/ Conflicts of Interest ,
Criminal Conspiracy ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
IRS ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Settlement
Connecticut State Court Finds Defunct Pharmacy Liable for $39.2 Million in Damages and Penalties -
A Connecticut Superior Court judge found Assured Rx, LLC, a Florida-based pharmacy, liable for violating the Connecticut...more
11/4/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Damages ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Depositions ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Guilty Pleas ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
IRS ,
Liability ,
Medicare ,
Penalties ,
Pharmacies ,
Settlement
San Diego Physician and Medical Practice Pay $3.8 Million to Resolve FCA Allegations-
San Diego-based physician Dr. Janette J. Gray and her former medical practice, The Center for Health & Wellbeing, agreed to pay $3.8...more
10/28/2024
/ CARES Act ,
Compliance ,
Contractors ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Home Health Agencies ,
Investigations ,
Medicare ,
Misrepresentation ,
NASA ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Popular ,
SBA ,
Settlement ,
TRICARE
Teva Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Pay $450 Million to Resolve FCA Claims -
On October 10, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and Teva Neuroscience Inc. will pay $450 million to...more
10/18/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Appeals ,
Causation ,
Charitable Donations ,
DEA ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Medical Devices ,
Medicare ,
Opioid ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Settlement
US Supreme Court Declines to Consider AKS ‘Willfulness’ Question -
On October 7, the US Supreme Court denied a petition in which a whistleblower asked the Court to decide whether a “willful” act under the federal...more
10/14/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Bribery ,
Criminal Conspiracy ,
Denial of Certiorari ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Home Health Care ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Money Laundering ,
Popular ,
Scienter ,
SCOTUS ,
Telehealth ,
Whistleblowers
Florida Federal Judge Strikes Down FCA’s Qui Tam Provision as Unconstitutional -
On September 30, US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of the Middle District of Florida held in a historic decision that the federal...more
10/7/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Appointments Clause ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
False Statements ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Federal Health Care Programs (FHCP) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Misrepresentation ,
OIG ,
Qui Tam ,
Sentencing ,
Settlement ,
Unconstitutional Condition
New York City Mayor Eric Adams Charged for Accepting Foreign Bribes -
On September 26, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and two counts of soliciting donations from...more
9/30/2024
/ Bribery ,
Campaign Contributions ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Criminal Conspiracy ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Foreign Entities ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Fraud ,
HRSA ,
Identity Theft ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Billing Codes ,
Reimbursements ,
Sentencing ,
Settlement ,
Virus Testing ,
Wire Fraud
Walgreens Settles for $106.8 Million Over FCA Violations -
On September 13, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Walgreen Co. (collectively, Walgreens) agreed to pay $106.8...more
9/23/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
CVS ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Health Care Programs (FHCP) ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Money Laundering ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Settlement ,
Stark Law ,
Walgreens
Medical Device Manufacturer THD Pays $700,000 to Resolve FCA Allegations -
On September 6, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced that THD America, Inc., and its parent company, THD SpA of Italy,...more
9/16/2024
/ False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Manufacturers ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Billing Codes ,
Medical Devices ,
Medicare ,
Reimbursements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Federal Court Permits Investors to Resume Kickback Suit Against Teva -
After a two-year long stay, on August 30, Judge Karen S. Marston of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled that investors...more
9/9/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Investors ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Permits ,
Reimbursements ,
Settlement
Former Congressman George Santos Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft -
On August 19, former US Representative George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of the...more
8/26/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Bribery ,
Cash Transactions ,
Corruption ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Embezzlement ,
Evasion ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
False Documentation ,
False Statements ,
FBI ,
Federal Election Commission (FEC) ,
Fraud ,
Identity Theft ,
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ,
Investors ,
Kickbacks ,
Plea Agreements ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Venezuela ,
Whistleblowers ,
Wire Fraud
Dental Office and Its Founders and Owners Agree to Pay Over $6 Million to Resolve FCA Allegations -
West Coast Dental Administrative Services LLC and its founders and former owners agreed to pay $6.3 million to resolve...more
DOJ Launches Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program -
On August 1, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the details of its new Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program. According to the DOJ, the...more
8/12/2024
/ Bribery ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
DEA ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Durable Medical Equipment ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
FinCEN ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Internal Reporting ,
Kickbacks ,
Opioid ,
Pilot Programs ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Whistleblower Awards ,
Whistleblowers ,
Wire Fraud
Precision Lens Pays $12 Million to Resolve FCA and AKS Violations -
Late last week, Precision Lens and the estate of its former principal agreed to pay $12 million to resolve allegations regarding violations of the False...more
8/5/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare ,
Insurance Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
Reimbursements ,
Settlement ,
Stark Law ,
Telemarketing ,
Whistleblowers
Welcome to the Summer 2024 issue of “FCA Enforcement & Compliance Digest,” our quarterly newsletter in which we compile essential updates on False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement trends, litigation, agency guidance, and...more
7/31/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Beneficiaries ,
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) ,
But For Causation ,
Compliance ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement ,
Fair Market Value ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
Oral Argument ,
Physician Compensation Arrangements ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Portability ,
Settlement ,
Stark Law ,
TRICARE ,
Valuation
Federal Court Dismisses $680 Million FCA Suit -
On July 23, a Maryland federal judge, Ellen L. Hollander, dismissed a $680 million False Claims Act (FCA) suit that was previously revived by the US Supreme Court. The suit...more
Texas Pharmaceutical Marketer Sentenced for $59 Million Medications Fraud Conspiracy -
On July 12, Quintan Cockerell, a Texas pharmaceutical marketer, was sentenced to over two years in prison and ordered to pay more than...more
7/22/2024
/ Conspiracies ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Hospice ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Sentencing ,
Settlement
On June 7, Adam Hart, a former employee of McKesson Corporation, filed a petition for certiorari to the US Supreme Court asking the Court to define the “willfulness” element of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). United States...more
DOJ Announces Agreement With Rite Aid to Settle Allegations of Violating the FCA and CSA in Relation to Opioid Dispensing -
On July 10, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Rite Aid Corporation and 10 of its...more
7/15/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Billing ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Fraud ,
Medicare ,
Opioid ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Rite Aid ,
Settlement
Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering of $18 Million Leads to Prison Sentence for New York Pharmacy Owners -
Two pharmacy owners from New York have been sentenced for using their pharmacies to submit fraudulent claims to...more