Qui Tam

Happy New Year 2010 - Justice prevails

By LaBovick Law

Happy New Year 2010!! Today is the first day of the New Year.  Last year marked a milestone in record breaking settlements relating to qui tam and false claims act violations.

The year ended with a qui tam settlement from Genesys Health System in the amount of  $669,413. The lawsuit brought by the Justice Department alleged that  the health care provider violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare.

Genesys, a Grand Blanc, Mich.-based Company, provides health care services through a network of medical facilities located in Michigan. The government alleged that between 2001 and 2007, Genesys violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for higher levels of service than were actually rendered to patients. Specifically, the government alleged that Genesys overbilled for evaluation and management services provided to cardiology patients.

Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Civil Division, Tony West stated:

"We are committed to vigorously pursuing those who defraud Medicare. Taxpayer dollars should be spent on health care services for patients, not wasted on fraud and abuse."

This case was a success due to the coordinated efforts of the Justice Department's Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the Office of Investigations for the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General and Office of Counsel to the Inspector General.
 

Full post as published by Whistleblower Law Blog on January 01, 2010 (boomark / email).