Tag Archives: enforcement

Physicians in the Bulls-eye

Photo of Robert M. WolinBy Robert M. Wolin on Posted in Uncategorized
Several recently reported cases highlight the growing risk physicians face if they succumb to competitive pressures, especially offers of remuneration from labs, pharmacies, home health agencies and other providers to whom they refer. In many cases, the effort to recoup fees may come years after the physician received and spent the fees, with no insurance … Continue Reading

IRC Section 501(r): An ACA Provision That’s Likely Here to Stay

Photo of Laurice Rutledge LambertBy Laurice Rutledge Lambert and Elizabeth O’Connell on Posted in Uncategorized
For tax-exempt hospitals, the Section 501(r) Internal Revenue Code (IRC) requirements of the Affordable Care Act are “old news” by now. However, despite the recent focus on repeal of the ACA, it is worth noting that this provision is likely here to stay. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), a long-time advocate for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured … Continue Reading

Summer Fraud and Abuse Roundup

By Banee Pachuca and Darby C. Allen on Posted in Uncategorized
Now that the kids are back in school and summer vacations are in the rearview mirror, it’s time to catch up on recent fraud and abuse developments. The federal government was busy this summer negotiating a pair of settlements under the Stark Law and anti-kickback statute, drafting changes to the Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (SRDP), and … Continue Reading

A Tale of Two Escobars: Federal Courts Begin Grappling with Opposing Views of “Materiality”

By John W. Petrelli and B. Scott McBride on Posted in Uncategorized
On June 16, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a highly anticipated opinion in Universal Health Services, Inc. v. U.S. ex rel. Escobar, which for the first time expressly recognized implied certification as a viable theory under the federal False Claims Act (FCA). Implied certification is a theory that has been widely criticized by government contractors … Continue Reading

No Longer Implied: Supreme Court Expressly Recognizes Implied Certification as a Theory of Liability Under the False Claims Act

Photo of W. Barron A. AveryBy W. Barron A. Avery, B. Scott McBride and John W. Petrelli on Posted in Uncategorized
Court Rejects the First Circuit’s “Expansive View” of the Theory by Articulating “Rigorous” Standards of Materiality Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a long-anticipated decision on the viability of the “implied certification” theory of liability under the False Claims Act (FCA). In Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar, a unanimous Court … Continue Reading

Does the Medical-School-to-Prison Pipeline Widen in Middle Age?

Photo of Robert M. WolinBy Robert M. Wolin on Posted in Uncategorized
The trend of holding physicians personally responsible for healthcare crimes has continued unabated over the past year. As noted in a previous article, physicians are particularly attractive targets for federal prosecutors due to the “special skill” and “abuse of trust” sentencing enhancements found in the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines. While measuring physician participation in illegal activity … Continue Reading

Caution: False Claims Act Penalties Poised to Double

By Darby C. Allen and B. Scott McBride on Posted in Uncategorized
A preview of the effects that a provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 will have on healthcare providers came to light this week when the Railroad Retirement Board (Board) published an interim final rule implementing the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Act). The Act requires federal agencies to … Continue Reading

Escobar Oral Arguments: Justices Imply Outcome – False Claims Act Implied Certification May Survive

By B. Scott McBride and John W. Petrelli on Posted in Uncategorized
The U.S. Supreme Court recently held oral arguments in the case of Universal Health Services, Inc. v. U.S. ex rel. Escobar, No. 15-7, which is set to decide the viability of implied certification under the FCA. As discussed in our last update on the Escobar case, implied certification is a judicially-created theory under the FCA that establishes liability for a … Continue Reading

News Flash: An Agreement Between Competitors to Limit Advertising/Marketing Violates the Antitrust Laws

By Jonathan Lewis on Posted in Uncategorized
For the second time in less than a year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an antitrust complaint against hospital systems that agreed to not advertise on billboards or in print in each other’s home county. Last time it was a number of hospital systems in Michigan. This time, it is two hospital systems … Continue Reading

The Deeper Dive: The Final Overpayment Rule

By B. Scott McBride and Darby C. Allen on Posted in Uncategorized
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued its final rule for Reporting and Returning of Overpayments (Final Rule). The Final Rule implements section 1128J(d) of the Social Security Act, which requires Medicare providers and suppliers to report and return overpayments within 60 days after the overpayment was identified in most instances. Failure to report … Continue Reading

ALJ Upholds OCR’s $239,800 CMP for Healthcare Provider

Photo of Lynn SessionsBy Lynn Sessions and Suchismita Pahi on Posted in Uncategorized
On January 13, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administrative Law Judge upheld the Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR’s) civil monetary penalty (CMP) against Lincare, Inc., d/b/a United Medical (Lincare), for $239,800 in an appeal of OCR’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) CMPs. Lincare is a home health company that provides respiratory … Continue Reading

Breaking News: 60-Day Overpayment Rule Finalized

By B. Scott McBride and Darby C. Allen on Posted in Uncategorized
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule implementing Section 6402(a) of the Affordable Care Act that requires Medicare providers and suppliers to report and return overpayments within 60 days after the date on which the overpayment was identified in most instances. Failure to report and return overpayments in accordance with … Continue Reading

Implied Certification and the FCA: Legally False or a False Legality? The Supreme Court Is Set to Decide

By B. Scott McBride and John W. Petrelli on Posted in Uncategorized
The United States Supreme Court recently granted certiorari in the case of Universal Health Services, Inc. v. U.S. ex rel. Escobar, No. 15-7, which places implied certification under the False Claims Act (FCA) squarely in the judicial crosshairs. Implied certification is a frustrating theory of liability for providers and contractors that receive government reimbursement, due to … Continue Reading

DOJ’s Increased Scrutiny of Pharmaceutical Manufacturer and Specialty Pharmacy Ties

Photo of Lee H. RosebushPhoto of Lindsay HolmesBy Lee H. Rosebush, Lindsay Holmes and David Kardian on Posted in Uncategorized
Over the past two years, the relationship between pharmaceutical manufacturers and specialty pharmacies has been under increased scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Specifically, the DOJ has targeted industry’s use of pharmaceutical providers and specialty pharmacies to enhance drug sales in at least two false claim actions. A third separate matter, in which … Continue Reading

DOJ Takes Aim at Responsible Individuals in Corporate Investigations

By B. Scott McBride and Darby C. Allen on Posted in Uncategorized
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates recently announced new instructions for attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), outlining in a memorandum the DOJ’s policies with respect to civil and criminal enforcement actions against responsible individuals in corporate investigations. The policy announcement underscores that the federal government is increasingly focused on deterring responsible … Continue Reading

Kane and the “60-Day Rule”: The Unforgiving World of Medicare and Medicaid Overpayments

By B. Scott McBride and John W. Petrelli on Posted in Uncategorized
The Southern District of New York has spoken on one of the first issues to confront those seeking compliance with the new “60-day rule” under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and it does not bode well for defendant hospitals and providers. On August 3, 2015, the district court in Kane v. Healthfirst, Inc., issued its … Continue Reading

Antitrust: “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do”*

By Jonathan Lewis on Posted in Uncategorized
Michigan Hospital is the Lone Holdout Facing Antitrust Charges After Three Others Settle and Agree to Pay $5,000 Each Allegiance Health (Allegiance) is the lone holdout facing antitrust charges brought by the DOJ and Michigan’s Attorney General (AG). Yet despite settlements by Hillsdale Community Health (Hillsdale), Community Health of Branch County (Branch), and ProMedica Health … Continue Reading

The Deeper Dive: C-Suite to Prison Pipeline

Photo of Robert M. WolinPhoto of Gregory S. SaikinBy Robert M. Wolin and Gregory S. Saikin on Posted in Uncategorized
In recent years, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been criticized for failing to prosecute executives for fraud, particularly in the financial sector. In response, the DOJ has begun to more heavily emphasize identifying individual malefactors and prosecuting them. This emphasis is particularly beneficial where a criminal conviction of a healthcare provider entity could … Continue Reading

Justice to Target Corporations and C-Suite Executives in the Healthcare Industry

Photo of BakerHostetlerBy BakerHostetler on Posted in Uncategorized
On Thursday, May 14, 2015, at a meeting of the American Bar Association’s Healthcare Fraud Section, Leslie Caldwell, the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Division, declared stamping out healthcare “fraud and holding those who commit this fraud accountable are core missions of the Criminal Division and the Justice Department.” In … Continue Reading

The Medical-School-to-Prison Pipeline Continues to Widen

Photo of Robert M. WolinPhoto of Gregory S. SaikinBy Robert M. Wolin and Gregory S. Saikin on Posted in Uncategorized
Pysicians now appear to be more than ever at a greater risk of investigation for healthcare crimes, largely due to their “gatekeeping” function concerning a patient’s need for medical services and the government’s increased willingness to pursue cases tied to questionable medical necessity. In fact, the recent Medicare fraud indictment of Dr. Solomon E. Melgen … Continue Reading

Breaking News: CMS Delays Final Overpayment Rule

By B. Scott McBride and Darby C. Allen on Posted in Uncategorized
Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is extending the deadline to finalize the rule implementing the Affordable Care Act provision that requires providers to timely report and return overpayments to the Medicare program. The proposed rule was issued in February 2012, and CMS is required to provide notice to … Continue Reading

OIG Revamps Regulations Concerning CMPs and Exclusion

By B. Scott McBride and Darby C. Allen on Posted in Uncategorized
In a pair of proposed rules published in May, the HHS OIG unveiled changes to the regulations concerning OIG’s authority to impose civil monetary penalties (CMPs) and exclude individuals and entities from participation in federal healthcare programs. The changes are largely driven by provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and illustrate OIG’s expansion of … Continue Reading
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