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
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
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
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
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
Teva and DOJ May Reach Settlement in Closely Watched AKS Lawsuit -
On June 16, Teva Pharmaceuticals filed a request with the First Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to hold in abeyance its interlocutory appeal concerning...more
6/24/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Health Care Programs (FHCP) ,
Fraud ,
Interlocutory Appeals ,
Kickbacks ,
Money Laundering ,
Sentencing ,
Settlement ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals ,
Vaccinations ,
Wire Fraud
Chicago Laboratory Owner Charged with Defrauding Medicare in $60 Million COVID-19 Test Kit Scheme -
The Chicago-based owner of two laboratories, Zoom Labs Inc. and Western Labs Co., has been charged with health care fraud...more
6/17/2024
/ Chronic Care Managment (CCM) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Damages ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
HRSA ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Fraud ,
Penalties ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
TRICARE ,
Uninsured Patients
Florida Lab Owner Agrees to Pay Over $27 Million to Resolve Three Whistleblower Lawsuits -
Daniel Hurt, the prior owner and operator of Fountain Health Services LLC, Verify Health, Landmark Diagnostics LLC, First Choice...more
6/3/2024
/ Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Insurance Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
OIG ,
Qui Tam ,
Reimbursements ,
Settlement ,
Stark Law ,
Whistleblowers
Testing Facility Settles $2.5 Million Anti-Kickback Lawsuit -
On May 15, the US Attorneys for the Southern District of New York announced that they had settled their civil fraud lawsuit against Balance Diagnostics USA,...more
Big Baby’s Big Foul: Former NBA Star Glen 'Big Baby' Davis Sentenced to 40 Months for Healthcare Fraud Scheme -
On May 9, former Boston Celtics forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis was sentenced to 40 months in prison following...more
5/13/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
CIMA ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Hospice ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
NBA ,
Wire Fraud
DOJ Secures Plea in $50 Million Medicare Fraud and Kickback Scheme -
On April 26, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Manishkumar Patel pleaded guilty to charges related to a $50 million health care fraud and...more
5/6/2024
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Guilty Pleas ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
HRSA ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare Fraud ,
Money Laundering ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Retaliation ,
Telemarketing ,
Whistleblowers ,
Wire Fraud
Disgraced Crypto Mogul Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison -
On March 28, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York handed down a substantial term of...more
Cooperation Spares Former NBA Shooting Guard From Prison -
Former National Basketball Association (NBA) shooting guard, Antoine Wright, was sentenced to time served after he pled guilty to conspiracy and aggravated...more
3/25/2024
/ CARES Act ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Durable Medical Equipment ,
Economic Injury Disaster Loans ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
NBA ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
SBA ,
Staffing Agencies ,
Telemedicine ,
Wire Fraud
Owner of Telemedicine Companies Settles $110 Million Health Care Fraud Claim -
Steven Richardson, the owner of telemedicine companies Expansion Media, LLC and Hybrid Management Group LLC, agreed to settle allegations that...more
2/26/2024
/ Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Billing ,
Fraud and Abuse ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Indictments ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
Settlement ,
Telemedicine
Clinical Laboratory and CEO To Pay Over $13 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations -
A New Jersey-based laboratory, RDx Bioscience Inc. (RDX), and its owner and CEO, Eric Leykin, agreed to pay $10,315,023 to the US...more
1/15/2024
/ CEOs ,
Clinical Laboratories ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
FBI ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Reimbursements ,
Settlement ,
Whistleblowers
Hospital Executive and Three Physicians to Pay More Than $880,000 to Resolve Kickback Allegations -
On Monday, December 4, 2023, a Lexington, Texas, hospital executive and three health care providers agreed to pay more...more
12/11/2023
/ Clinical Laboratory Testing ,
Conspiracies ,
Controlled Substances ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Fraud ,
Settlement ,
TRICARE ,
Wire Fraud