The following is a roundup of recent lawsuits and settlements involving cases filed under the qui tam, or whistle-blower, provision of the False Claims Act, beginning with the most recent.
1. Florida hospital district to pay $69.5M to settle Stark Law, False Clams Act allegations
North Broward Hospital District, a special taxing district of the state of Florida that operates hospitals and other healthcare facilities, agreed to pay the federal government $69.5 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act by engaging in improper financial relationships with physicians. The allegations against the hospital district were originally brought by Michael Reilly, MD, under the whistle-blower provision of the False Claims Act.
2. Georgia health system inks $35M deal to settle Stark Law, False Claims Act allegations
Columbus (Ga.) Regional Healthcare System agreed to pay $25 million, which will be divided between the federal government and the state of Georgia, to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to government healthcare programs in violation of Stark Law. The system also agreed to additional payments not to exceed $10 million. The settlement resolved allegations originally brought by Richard Parker, a former Columbus Regional executive, under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act.
3. Quest Diagnostics to pay $1.8M to settle Medicare fraud allegations
Madison, N.J.-based Quest Diagnostics, an international provider of clinical and laboratory services, agreed to pay the federal government $1.8 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act. The settlement resolved allegations originally brought by Elisa Martinez, a phlebotomist who previously worked at a Quest testing center, under the whistle-blower provision of the False Claims Act.
4. Kmart pays $1.4M in false claims settlement
Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Kmart paid $1.4 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly inducing Medicare beneficiaries to fill their prescriptions at Kmart pharmacies. The lawsuit was originally filed by Joshua Leighr, a former Kmart pharmacist, under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act.
5. DaVita settles whistle-blower lawsuit for $450M
Denver-based DaVita Healthcare Partners agreed to pay $450 million to resolve claims it violated the False Claims Act by wasting medication and then billing Medicare and Medicaid for it. The settlement resolved allegations originally brought under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act by two physicians who previously worked for DaVita.
6. John Muir Health to pay $550k to settle whistle-blower lawsuit
Walnut Creek, Calif.-based John Muir Health agreed to pay the federal government $550,000 to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act. A former employee of the health system originally brought the lawsuit under the whistle-blower provision of the False Claims Act.
7. Nursing home to pay $17M to settle kickback allegations brought by former CFO
Miami-based Plaza Health Network, formerly Hebrew Homes Health Network, agreed to pay the federal government $17 million to settle allegations it violated the Anti-Kickback Statute. Stephen Beaujon, a former CFO of the company, originally brought the claims against Hebrew Homes under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act.
8. D.C. hospital to pay $12.9M to settle false claims allegations
Washington, D.C.-based Children's National Medical Center and its affiliated entities agreed to pay $12.9 million to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act. James A Roark Sr., a former CNMC employee, originally brought the lawsuit under the whistle-blower provision of the False Claims Act.
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