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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published updated data regarding settlements made under the Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (SRDP), an important mechanism through which providers may disclose actual or potential violations of the federal physician self-referral prohibition commonly known as the Stark Law. Continue Reading CMS Publishes New Data on Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol Settlements

In a recent decision, U.S. ex rel. Sibley v. Univ. of Chicago Medical Center, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit considered allegations that two medical billing and debt collection companies, Medical Business Office Corp. (MBO) and Trustmark Recovery Services, Inc. (Trustmark), and the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), a client of one of the debt collection companies, violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by seeking inappropriate reimbursement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for Medicare “bad debts.”
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Signals Ongoing Importance of Compliance with Medicare “Bad Debt” Regulations

I commented on the recent ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the district court’s rejection of Pfizer’s argument that liability under the Anti-Kickback Statute requires an element of “corrupt” intent.
Continue Reading Court Decision Upholding OIG’s Rejection of Pharmaceutical Company’s Drug Co-Pay Assistance Program

I recently outlined healthcare-related fraud and abuse laws in Tennessee as part of Thomson Reuters’ Practical Law survey. My content focused on Tennessee is part of a series that examines state-by-state laws and regulations addressing civil and criminal actions, consequences for violation, and Medicaid program integrity provisions.
Continue Reading Tennessee Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Laws

Bass, Berry & Sims and the Tennessee Hospital Association invite you to join us for a complimentary day-long CLE program featuring leading government officials, industry experts and experienced counsel as we discuss the most significant fraud and abuse issues currently facing the healthcare industry. Our panelists will cover topics including:

  • Year in Review: Looking Back on Healthcare Fraud Issues in 2019
  • Medicaid Enforcement Update
  • Enforcement Considerations for a Value-Based World
  • Managed Care Enforcement
  • A View from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices
  • DOJ Cooperation Guidance
  • When the News Gets Out: Crisis Management for Investigations
  • HR Implications of FCA Investigations
  • Settlement Considerations for Enforcement Matters
  • Effectively Managing Internal Investigations

Continue Reading Join Us | Nashville Healthcare Fraud Conference | December 5, 2019

Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Taylor Chenery discussed the implications of a recent court ruling demonstrating how a court should analyze multiple different types of alleged claims under the False Claim Act at the motion to dismiss phase of the case. The case involves Boston Heart Diagnostics Corp., who is facing allegations from a former…

Bass, Berry & Sims Healthcare Fraud & Abuse attorney Brian Roark provided a comment to Home Health Care News about the government’s decision not to intervene in the False Claims Act (FCA) case brought against HCR Manor Care’s hospice division, Heartland. In the case, a whistleblower accused Heartland of submitting false claims and statements to Medicare. However, as Brian points out in the article, Heartland isn’t “necessarily out of the woods yet; the government declining to intervene doesn’t mean an FCA case won’t go forward.”
Continue Reading Brian Roark Comments on Government’s Declination to Intervene in Heartland FCA Case

A unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Eleventh Circuit) recently affirmed two grants of summary judgment in favor of defendant Lincare, Inc. d/b/a Diabetic Experts of America (collectively, “Diabetic Experts”) by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (District Court).  Diabetic Experts provided diabetic supplies to Medicare patients, some of whom had previously ordered medical supplies from Diabetic Experts for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  To promote sales, staff at Diabetic Experts would place calls to individuals who had previously ordered COPD-related equipment regarding a need for diabetic supplies.
Continue Reading Eleventh Circuit Affirms Two Grants of Summary Judgment in Favor of Diabetic Experts

On April 27, 2016, DOJ announced that Pfizer and its subsidiary Wyeth, LLC, agreed to pay $784.6 million to resolve allegations that Wyeth failed to disclose to federal and state healthcare programs discounts provided to hospitals for Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), as required by its Medicaid Drug Rebate Agreement. DOJ alleged that this lack of disclosure led to states overpaying millions of dollars in reimbursements for PPIs.

Under Medicaid’s Drug Rebate Program, drug manufacturers must enter into a Medicaid Drug Rebate Agreement with HHS for their prescription drugs to be reimbursed by Medicaid. These agreements require manufacturers to pay rebates for drugs purchased by Medicaid. The amounts of the rebates are based on the Average Manufacturer Price, or the average price paid by wholesalers, and the Best Price, or the lowest price paid by any purchaser. These prices must be reported to CMS on a quarterly basis.Continue Reading Pharma Companies Pay $784.6 Million to Settle FCA Claims

From the Bass, Berry & Sims Blog Network
From the Bass, Berry & Sims Blog Network

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