Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Qui Tam Blogs -> Whistleblower Lawyer Blog

Qui Tam

: Whistleblower Lawyer Blog

Health Care Fraud Strike Force Targets Medicare and Medicaid Fraud

With the nation's health care costs growing, a DOJ and HHS initiative to combat health care fraud continues to show progress.

Building on past enforcement efforts, in May 2009 the government announced its Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), as part of what is now a Cabinet-level battle against Medicare fraud. To date in FY 2009, the Department of Justice has recovered close to one billion dollars in health care fraud cases, and has obtained 300 convictions.

Last week, the government announced that its Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged twenty California defendants with $26 million in Medicare fraud from the sale of durable medical equipment (DME). That same week, the government charged six Houston area residents with participating in a scheme to submit claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary DME.

DME fraud and abuse are frequently reported in the calls we receive in representing "whistleblowers" under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The nation's major whistleblower law, the False Claims Act allows private citizens who report fraud or false claims to share in the government's recovery of damages.

Significant changes to the False Claims Act made earlier this year will improve its effectiveness in stopping fraud against taxpayer funds.

Full post as published by Whistleblower Lawyer Blog on October 25, 2009 (boomark / email).

Related Law Questions

How do i go bout geting a free laywer to sue the durham police department for drug raids and nothing is found?they have been in my house 4 or 5 times seems like every 4 months or so and breaking down my door tearing up m
They need a warrant to get into your house...if they never showed you one...you ...

Can collection agency call me for my mother debt that she never had?
Get an Attorney - quickly. Do not talk to the collection people. Do not tell the...

I want to know if its legal for a healthcare provider to tell you something is going to be covered and when it isn't charge you; after you specifically said you couldn't afford it?
I'm not going to sugar coat anything. It's a sad world we live in toda...

My father recently re-financed his home and was told they would give him $8,000.00 out of their loan origination fees for him to pay his credit cards off. He didn't qualify for any cash out so they were going to take car
Absolutely! I would call a RESPA attorney immediately as soon as you can. They a...

Some elses debt is being reported by a bank to the crecit agencies. They know and have ackowledged it is not mine, yet it is still being listed as mine. it was my son's and no I didn't co-sign. It is adversly
It is easy for the bank and the credit reporting agencies to clear this confusio...

Lawsuits and Settlements

Coventry Health Care, Inc. 401(k) / ERISA Stock Fraud
Coventry Health Care, Inc. 401(k) / ERISA Stock Fraud

Medicare Fraud
IJKG, LLC pays government $2.5 million settlement after Bayonne Medical Center overcharged for in and out patient care.

Medicaid Fraud
Novaritis, GSK to Pay $114.5 Million

Pfizer, Pharmacia
Found Guilty of Medicaid Fraud

Bush Administration
class action settlement ensures Medicaid beneficiaries can continue to purchase prescription drugs at minimum cost when they become eligible for Medicare.

Rumford Group Homes Inc.
$167,463 settlement reached in Medicaid fraud lawsuit.