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Athira Pharma Inc., a biotech company based in Bothwell, Washington, has agreed to pay $4.06 million to resolve allegations related to the False Claims Act (FCA) for not disclosing research misconduct. The case stems from actions by the company's former CEO, Leen Kawas, who allegedly falsified and manipulated scientific images in her doctoral dissertation and […]

Medicare Advantage fraud has made headlines once again, as Independent Health, a leading provider of Medicare Advantage plans, has agreed to settle a False Claims Act lawsuit for up to $98 million. This settlement comes after allegations that the company knowingly submitted invalid diagnosis codes to Medicare in order to inflate payments. Background on the […]

The company engaged in a systematic kickback operation involving their drug Sucraid, which treats Congenital Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency (CSID). Between 2018 and 2022, QOL Medical provided free Carbon-13 breath test kits to healthcare providers and paid for laboratory analysis of these tests. The Kickback Operation The scheme worked through several key steps: QOL distributed free breath […]

Gen Digital Inc., formerly known as Symantec Corp., has paid a substantial $55.1 million judgment in a significant False Claims Act case. The payment includes $16.1 million in damages and $36.8 million in civil penalties, plus additional costs and interest, concluding a decade-long litigation process. Nature of the Fraud The company knowingly made false claims […]

Dr. Basem Hamid, a 52-year-old neurologist from Pearland, Texas, has agreed to pay $948,359.85 to resolve allegations of submitting false claims to Medicare. The case centers around fraudulent billing for surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes between August 2019 and October 2022. The Fraudulent Scheme Dr. Hamid's actions violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting […]

In a significant enforcement action, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Monica Preston, a nurse practitioner based in Colorado Springs, has agreed to pay $90,000 to resolve allegations of improper prescribing practices involving controlled substances, including opioids. Details of the Allegations Monica Preston, N.P., formerly employed at the Colorado Institute […]

$67 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme: Telemarketer Sentenced in Major Medicare Scam Massive Fraud Operation Uncovered The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the sentencing of a telemarketer involved in a staggering $67 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme. This case highlights the ongoing battle against Medicare fraud and the critical role whistleblowers […]

FBI Uncovers Massive Medicaid Fraud Scheme at Minnesota Autism Centers: What Whistleblowers Need to Know Breaking: FBI Raids Reveal Extensive Healthcare Fraud The FBI has uncovered substantial evidence of multimillion-dollar Medicaid fraud at two Minnesota autism centers, executing search warrants at Smart Therapy Center in Minneapolis and Star Autism Center in St. Cloud. These centers allegedly […]

California Hospital Pays $10.25M to Settle False Claims Allegations Sutter Health's Stark Law Violations Sutter Health, a prominent healthcare provider in California, has agreed to pay $10.25 million to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act. This settlement stems from accusations that Sutter Health violated the Stark Law, which prohibits hospitals from billing Medicare […]

Pennsylvania State University has reached a $1.25 million settlement with the Department of Justice to resolve allegations related to non-compliance with contractual cybersecurity requirements. Understanding the Settlement The case centered on Penn State's alleged failure to meet mandatory cybersecurity standards while receiving federal contracts. This settlement represents a significant development in the enforcement of cybersecurity compliance […]