Former Nurse Practitioner Faces Prison, Stiff Financial Penalty in Case Involving Medicare Kickbacks

A former Georgia nurse practitioner, who with her husband owned two telemedicine and two durable medical equipment companies (DME), faces up to 20 years in prison for her role in a Medicare kickback conspiracy that bilked Medicare out of $136 million. Earlier this month, Jean Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and…

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Healthcare-Related False Claims Act Settlements Reach $1.8 Billion in FY 2023

The False Claims Act (FCA), the federal government’s primary tool for civil enforcement, is resulting in record returns. The U.S. Department of Justice reported 543 settlements and judgments, recovering $2.68 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2023. Of that, more than $1.8 billion related to matters involving the healthcare industry, including managed care…

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Three Sentenced for Roles in Compounding Pharmacy Kickback and Fraud Scheme

Three men, including two from Florida, were sentenced for their roles in a $54 million pharmacy kickback, bribery, and fraud scheme involving TRICARE. The federal program provides health insurance benefits to active duty and retired service members and their families. Prison Time David Byron Copeland of Tallahassee was sentenced to four years and three months…

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­PET Scan Company and Owner to Pay $85M to Settle Anti-Kickback Statute Allegations

An Illinois healthcare imaging company and its founder, owner and CEO have agreed to pay $85.5 million to settle claims that the company allegedly paid kickbacks to physicians to refer Medicare patients for cardiac scans using “sham” medical supervision agreements in violation of the Anti-kickback statute. The Settlement Agreement Cardiac Imaging Inc. (CII) and Florida…

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Diagnostic Testing Company Settles False Claims Act Case Filed by Whistleblower

Exposing fraud in diagnostic companies.

Exagen, a California-based life sciences company that makes diagnostic tests for the treatment of autoimmune conditions, recently settled allegations, filed by a whistleblower, that it violated the False Claims Act by paying physicians to use its laboratory tests. The Settlement Agreement The agreement called for Exagen to pay $653,143. The case was brought under the…

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Dermatology Company Settles Violations of Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute

A dermatology paper with medical equipment on top of it.

A Texas-based dermatology management company recently agreed to pay the U.S. government approximately $8.9 million, including $5.9 million in restitution, to settle self-reported allegations of potential violations of the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute resulting in liability under the False Claims Act. The Settlement Agreement According to the settlement agreement, from January 2013 to…

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