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
Seventh Circuit Signals Ongoing Importance of Compliance with Medicare “Bad Debt” Regulations
By Page Smith on
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.”
Expanded Focus on Cybersecurity Activities by DOJ with Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative
By John Eason, Jeff Gibson & Sheaniva Murray on
Posted in Cybersecurity
We recently authored an article for ABA Health eSource, published by the American Bar Association’s Health Law Section, that details the expanded focus on cybersecurity activities by the Department of Justice (DOJ) with the Civil Cyber-Fraud initiative.
Continue Reading Expanded Focus on Cybersecurity Activities by DOJ with Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative
D.C. Circuit Holds that False Claims Act Damages Must Be Reduced Dollar-for-Dollar by Other Defendants’ Settlements
By Brian Irving on
On August 30, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held, as a matter of first impression, that damages in False Claims Act cases are subject to pro tanto (dollar-for-dollar) settlement offsets in cases involving multiple jointly and severally liable defendants.
Third Circuit Holds that Whistleblower Can Still Be Fired for Misconduct
By Peter Rathmell on
Posted in FCA Alert, Retaliation
On August 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued an order reaffirming that potential False Claims Act (FCA) whistleblowers are not immune from being fired for workplace misconduct, especially where that misconduct involves “oinking” at co-workers.
Continue Reading Third Circuit Holds that Whistleblower Can Still Be Fired for Misconduct
Ninth Circuit Affirms Broad Scope of False Claims Act’s Public Disclosure Bar
By Brian Irving on
Posted in FCA Alert, Public Disclosure Bar
On August 25, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in which it held that ex parte patent prosecutions by the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) qualify as “other Federal . . . hearing[s]” under prong (ii) of the False Claims Act’s Public Disclosure Bar. In so ruling, the Ninth Circuit affirmed that the Public Disclosure Bar should not be read in a restrictive manner but should be given a broad construction.
Continue Reading Ninth Circuit Affirms Broad Scope of False Claims Act’s Public Disclosure Bar
Eighth Circuit Tightens Causation Requirement for FCA Claims Involving Anti-Kickback Statute Violations, Creating Circuit Split
By Page Smith on
Posted in Anti-Kickback Statute, FCA Alert
In 2010, Congress amended the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) to provide that claims “resulting from” an AKS violation are “false or fraudulent” for False Claims Act (FCA) purposes. 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(g). For over a decade, courts have wrestled with the significance of the “resulting from” requirement and the degree of causation it warrants for an FCA violation premised on an illegal kickback, as we have covered in prior posts.
Increased False Claims Act Exposure for Private Equity Firms Investing in Healthcare
By Taylor Chenery on
Posted in Business & Industry Focus, Private Equity
I recently authored an article for the American Bar Association (ABA) Health Law Section detailing the growing need for private equity firms to consider the increased risk of False Claims Act (FCA) liability.
PPP Enforcement Actions Gather Steam
By Hannah Choate on
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.
Second Circuit Agrees that the Anti-Kickback Statute Does Not Contain a “Corruption” Element
By Jennifer Michael on
On July 25, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) decision granting summary judgment in favor of the Department of Health Human Services (HHS) in Pfizer’s landmark challenge against the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) interpretation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS).