The False Claims Act is the government’s weapon of choice in fighting healthcare fraud.   In the beginning of the Obama Administration, Congress amended the False Claims Act and enacted a wish list from DOJ prosecutors. Healthcare companies have no choice but to negotiate settlements since they risk exclusion from federal healthcare programs, the equivalent of a death sentence for healthcare businesses. United Healthcare is...

If you work in compliance in the healthcare industry, you have a tough job. The number and variety of risks that healthcare providers face is daunting. The False Claims Act is a mighty weapon in the hands of federal prosecutors. Hospitals are under the enforcement microscope given the significant role they play in the delivery of healthcare. Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a national hospital chain, recently...

There are many important predictors of corporate culture. Everyone laments the difficult in measuring a company’s culture. There are a few issues, however, that may be inconvertible as a predictor of a corporate culture. How does a company react to a whistleblower? I am sure everyone is saying to themselves – well, we do not have that problem,  we are committed to fair treatment of...

When commentators criticize the FCPA for its broad coverage of international business operations, these same commentators would have real trouble with the US Anti-Kickback statute. Talk about broad coverage and then complicate it with specific exemptions that are challenging to interpret and apply. When it comes to fraud enforcement in the healthcare industry, the Justice Department wields a mighty stick – the False Claims Act....

Federal prosecutors have turned their attention to physicians for Medicare fraud prosecution. Physicians who participate in the Medicare program have to be aware of the significant risks of Medicare fraud. In June, federal law enforcement orchestrated the largest nationwide Medicare bust of all time – 243 individuals were charged, including 46 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals for their participation in Medicare fraud schemes...

Watch What You Want and When You Want It!! Check Out Site Here The Volkov Law Group is pleased to announce the launch of Volkov Law TV, a subscription-based service that provides immediate access to 50 webinars on a variety of enforcement and compliance topics.  New webinars will be added each month — at least 20 new webinars each year. Monthly subscription fee for unlimited...

You can always count on lawyers to ring alarm belles and warn businesses. The line between accurate reporting and fear-mongering sometimes blurs when lawyers write so-called “alerts” to inform businesses of new or increasing risks. When it comes to the False Claims Act, I always try to “stick to the facts.” For healthcare, pharmaceutical/medical device, and defense companies, the False Claims Act is usually the...