Feb 17, 2021 | COVID-19 Related Law, Fraud Investigations, Government Investigations, Medicare and Medicaid, White Collar Crime
On February 11, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the first criminal charges for the misappropriation of funds designated for medical providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the press release, Ms. Amina Abbas owned a home health...
Dec 15, 2020 | Health Care, Medicare and Medicaid
On Thursday, December 10, 2020, the Department of Justice issued a press release regarding the sentencing of a Texas clinic owner and employee to 20 years and 8 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in a pill mill scheme. The clinic owner, Baker Niazi, pled...
Dec 1, 2020 | Health Care, Medicare and Medicaid
On November 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a draft of its final rule regarding Medicare’s physician self-referral law, colloquially known as the Stark Law. On the same day, CMS also issued a press release and fact sheet...
Nov 20, 2020 | False Claims Act, Fraud Investigations, Government Investigations, Medicare and Medicaid
The federal False Claims Act (FCA) imposes liability for treble damages and civil penalties on “any person who [among other things] … knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment” to the federal government or who...
Aug 31, 2020 | COVID-19 Related Law, Health Care, Medicare and Medicaid
On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a press release regarding the strengthening of COVID-19 surveillance and the publication of interim final rule CMS-30401-IFC. Although the press release mainly addresses nursing home...
Aug 31, 2020 | False Claims Act, Fraud Investigations, Government Investigations, Health Care, Medicare and Medicaid, White Collar Crime
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), at its core, prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving any remuneration in exchange for federal healthcare program referrals. AKS violations carry potential criminal penalties, as well as civil and administrative...
