We authored an article published in the June 2023 issue of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Health Lawyer addressing government scrutiny of COVID-19 relief funds. Continue Reading Government Scrutiny of COVID-19 Relief Funds

Hannah Choate
Hannah Choate advises clients related to government and internal investigations, with a particular focus on fraud and abuse matters in the healthcare industry. Hannah works with clients to respond to allegations of healthcare fraud and abuse from various regulators, including the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and various United States Attorneys’ Offices.
Government Announces First FCA Settlement with PPP Lender
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on September 12, the first-ever False Claims Act (FCA) settlement with a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lender.
Continue Reading Government Announces First FCA Settlement with PPP Lender
PPP Enforcement Actions Gather Steam
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was intended to provide a fast influx of assistance to small businesses during the economic shock created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The speed with which loans were distributed to businesses nationwide was striking, and so was the speed with which the Department of Justice (DOJ) began prosecuting those abusing the program. Reports of corporations and individuals seeking to take advantage of the PPP prompted a vigorous law enforcement response that has broadened its scope in recent months. As we highlighted last year, the DOJ has taken aggressive action to pursue those who engaged in misconduct involving the PPP and other CARES Act stimulus programs.
Continue Reading PPP Enforcement Actions Gather Steam
False Claims Act Settlements to Know from Q1 2022
The first quarter of 2022 brought news of several noteworthy False Claims Act (FCA) settlements, including several settlements by physicians regarding arrangements deemed to be unlawful kickbacks and the first settlement under the Department of Justice’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative. This post summarizes key settlements of interest to healthcare providers and government contractors.
Continue Reading False Claims Act Settlements to Know from Q1 2022