Florida Whistleblowers Help Recover $41 Million in Medicare Fraud Case

The Department of Justice has announced a $41 million recovery in a Medicare fraud case, with the assistance of two Florida whistleblowers.

The settlement resolves allegations that several Tampa area laboratories and pain management centers submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare for medically unnecessary drug tests.  The whistleblowers’ complaints allege that the defendants instituted a policy of conducting drug tests with every patient visit regardless of medical need and without individualized determinations of necessity by treating physicians.

This settlement resolves two lawsuits filed by the whistleblowers under the False Claims Act (FCA).  The FCA allows whistleblowers who uncover fraud against the government to file lawsuits on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.  The whistleblowers in this case will be awarded $7.79 million for their efforts in bringing the alleged fraud to light.

In addition to allowing whistleblowers a share in the recovery, the FCA also provides whistleblowers with important protections against retaliation.

If you have uncovered fraud against the government, contact the whistleblower attorneys at Miller Law Group today for a free consultation.

The settlement discussed above is based on allegations only. There has been no determination of guilt or liability.

Additional Resources:

Medicare and Medicaid Fraud: Charging Excessive Prices

Is it a HIPAA violation when whistleblowers use medical records?

Medicare and Medicaid Fraud: The Reverse False Claim and the 60-Day Rule