Author Archives: Site Administrator
Corning Agrees To Settle False Claims Litigation for $5.65 Million
New York-based Corning, Inc. has agreed to settle claims that it violated the False Claims Act for $5.65 Million. Corning’s Life Sciences Division produces glass and ceramic components for consumer electronics, mobile emissions controls, and telecommunications. According to the Justice Department, in 2005, Corning entered into a contract to sell laboratory research products to… Read More »
Pharmaceutical Company Agrees to Pay $45 Million to Resolve Civil and Criminal Charges
Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (“Par”), based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court and agreed to pay $45 million to resolve allegations that it promoted the prescription drug Megace ES for off-label uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Par’s CEO Paul Campanelli pleaded guilty on Par’s behalf… Read More »
Ambulance Company Agrees to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
A South Carolina ambulance company, Williston Rescue Squad, Inc. (“Williston”), has agreed to pay the United States $800,000 to settle allegations that Williston billed Medicare for ambulance rides that were medically unnecessary in violation of the False Claims Act. A clinical social worker at a facility that regularly receives Medicare patients transported by Williston… Read More »
UPDATE: U.S. Joins False Claims Act Suit Against Lance Armstrong
From 1996 to 2004, the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) sponsored the racing team owned by Tailwind Sports, LLC of which Lance Armstrong was the lead rider and Johan Bruyneel was the manager. Between 2001 and 2004, the USPS paid $31 million in sponsorship fees for the team. The lawsuit, initially filed by whistleblower… Read More »
Florida Dermatologist Settles False Claims Act Case for $26.1 Million
The Justice Department announced the largest settlement with an individual in the Middle District of Florida under the False Claims Act. Steven J. Wasserman, M.D., a Venice dermatologist, has agreed to pay $26.1 million to settle charges that he accepted illegal kickbacks and performed skin surgeries on Medicare patients that were not medically necessary…. Read More »
New Jersey Hospital Settles Qui Tam Case
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has announced that the Cooper Health System, Inc. dba Cooper University Hospital (“Cooper”) has agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle a pending qui tam action. According to Cooper’s website, Cooper University Health Care is the clinical campus of Cooper Medical School of Rowan… Read More »
Feds Mull Joining Qui Tam Case Against Former Pro-Cyclist Lance Armstrong
According to the Wall Street Journal, officials at the U.S. Department of Justice have recommended that the federal government join a False Claims Act case reportedly filed in 2010 by Lance Armstrong’s former teammate Floyd Landis. All federal whistleblower suits are kept under seal, but an individual who has reportedly seen the lawsuit confirmed… Read More »
Ohio Hospital Agrees to Settle Whistleblower Case for $4.4 Million
EMH Regional Medical Center (“EMH”), a not-for-profit hospital in Lorain County, Ohio, and North Ohio Heart Center, Inc. (“NOHC”), an independent group of physicians, have agreed to settle civil claims that they violated the False Claims Act. The government alleged that EMH and NOHC submitted claims to Medicare for procedures that were unnecessary. Kenny… Read More »
Florida-Based Sleep Diagnostic Testing Company Agrees to Settle False Claims Act Case
American Sleep Medicine LLC (“American Sleep”) is the owner and operator of sleep diagnostic testing centers in 14 states: Alabama, Florida, Delaware, California, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia. According to the Justice Department, American Sleep has agreed to pay $15.3 million to resolve allegations that it billed… Read More »
Florida’s Budget Cuts Cause State to Lose Federal Funds
The annual Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Report has been released by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and Florida Attorney General. The report shows that cuts to the budget of the Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“MFCU”) have caused the state to lose $1.89 million of federal funds. Florida’s Medicaid program is the… Read More »