Prescription drug fraud has long been a focus for government regulators, but it has taken on new significance in the wake of America’s opioid crisis. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human...more
The following is a summary of selected federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports of fraud and abuse enforcement activity across the country. The enforcement actions reported...more
Telemedicine companies are supposed to facilitate medically necessary services to beneficiaries over the telephone via licensed medical professionals. In reality, however, many of these “telemedicine companies” are...more
This issue of McDermott’s Healthcare Regulatory Check-Up highlights significant regulatory activity for April 2023. We discuss several criminal and civil enforcement actions related to the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the...more
The following is a summary of the federal Health and Human Services agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports of fraud and abuse enforcement activity across the country. The enforcement actions reported are based...more
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Flower Mound Hospital Partners LLC, a partially physician-owned hospital in Flower Mound, Texas, agreed to pay $18.2 million to settle its alleged violations of the False...more
William F. Gould In United States v. Merino, No. 19-50291, 2021 WL 754589 (9th Cir. Feb. 26, 2021), the court of appeals reversed the conviction of Marina Merino of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud in violation of 18...more
Acute Care Hospital Agrees to Pay $50 Million to Settle Alleged Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute Violations - On September 9, 2020, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced that Wheeling Hospital Inc. (“Wheeling...more
SEC Adopts Aggressive Approach to COVID-19 Fraud - The US Securities and Exchange Commission has already initiated multiple investigations into companies seeking to illegally profit from the global coronavirus pandemic...more
Report on Medicare Compliance 29, no. 15 (April 20, 2020) - Maury Regional Medical Center in Tennessee has agreed to pay $1.7 million to settle false claims allegations over MS-DRG coding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for...more
Report on Medicare Compliance 29, no. 2 (January 20, 2020) - - The HHS Office of Inspector General has updated its Work Plan, which includes an item on early discharges from inpatient rehabilitation facilities to home...more
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its largest ever national health care fraud takedown, resulting in charges against 601 diverse defendants including...more
This article will provide an outline of some of the most significant points for hospitals to use when confronted with a formal government investigation under the Criminal or Civil False Claims Act. As noted below, you should...more
The bill known as the “21st Century Cures,” H.R.6, would extend Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs) to cover false claims and false statements relating to grants, contracts, and other agreements funded by the Department of Health...more