News

March 5, 2013 — Before a pharmaceutical can be approved under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, its maker has to apply to the FDA and report all the intended uses for the product. It is illegal for pharmaceutical companies to market their drugs for any use that is not included in the initial drug application and approved by the FDA. This is called “off label” marketing and is a...

February 28, 2013 — When unethical dentists bill state Medicaid programs for children’s dentistry that is ineligible, unnecessary or never even performed, we all pay the price. Medicaid healthcare programs are funded jointly by state and federal governments. Medicaid funds ought to be devoted to help children in need — not unscrupulous dentists. The first people to see Medicaid...

February 28, 2013 — California’s False Claims Act recently became stronger when Governor Jerry Brown signed important amendments into law. Patterned after the federal False Claims Act, the California False Claims Act contains qui tam provisions that make it possible for a private individual with knowledge of fraud against the state government to file a whistleblower lawsuit under the...

February 26, 2013 — Health care providers that submit false claims to Medicare and other government healthcare programs for nonexistent or unnecessary medical procedures cost the taxpayers money. To put a stop to the fraud, employee insiders are frequently in the best position to help. Health care workers themselves may become aware of the fraud or even be asked to participate in it....

February 25, 2013 — Medicare fraud schemes by durable medical equipment suppliers are frequently exposed by employees with the courage to file suit under the qui tam provisions of the federal or state False Claims Acts. Individuals who uncover Medicare fraud are authorized under the federal statute to file a lawsuit on the government’s behalf and retain a portion of any monies...

February 22, 2013 — In 2006, the IRS Whistleblower Office was set up to reward informants who notify the government about tax fraud and come forward with information that results in the recovery of unpaid tax payments. Under the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, the reward for IRS tipsters varies from 15 to 30 percent.

When tax fraud involves an individual person, the statute...

February 21, 2013 — The IRS Whistleblower Office was set up in 2006 to provide financial incentives to informants who provide the IRS with information that results in the recoupment of fraudulently withheld tax payments. Under the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, the IRS Whistleblower Office is authorized to reward tipsters with a share of any recovery made. The reward for IRS...

February 20, 2013 — Military contractor fraud results in millions of dollars’ worth of false claims filed with the federal government every year. The fraud can involve defective military equipment, overbilling for military supplies, improprieties in construction contracts, and a host of other fraudulent schemes. The fraud is usually discovered first by an employee working for the...

February 19, 2013 — From July through December of 2012, the State of Maryland recovered over $14 million from businesses that attempted to scam the state’s Medicaid program by submitting claims for reimbursement to which the companies were not entitled. The Washington Examiner reports that the vast majority of the money — $12 million — was recovered under the Maryland False Health...