Case: Federal and state enforcers are closing in on a Pennsylvania primary care physician who allegedly ripped off Medicare for genetic tests to the tune of $755,241. At the center of the scheme is … [Read more...]
Enforcement Trends
Labs Caught Up in Massive National Telemedicine Takedown
October 29, 2020
So much for the pandemic’s dulling the momentum of federal fraud enforcement. Dubbed “Operation Rubber Stamp,” the new nationwide enforcement action revealed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on … [Read more...]
Labs in Court
OSHA Fines New Jersey Hospital for Coronavirus Respiratory Protection Violations
October 8, 2020
Case: OSHA is proposing to fine the hospital $9,639 for two serious violations: i. Failure to fit test tight-fitting respirators face piece respirators on employees required to use them; and ii. Not … [Read more...]
Enforcement Trends
Granston Memo Whistleblower Dismissals May Be Tougher than DOJ Thought
August 29, 2020
In 2018, the Justice Department sent an internal memorandum ordering US Attorneys to aggressively seek to dismiss False Claims Act (FCA) whistleblower qui tam lawsuits that lack merit or don’t serve … [Read more...]
Brief Your CEO
The 18 Things You Can Do for COVID-19 that You Can’t Do for Other Testing
June 1, 2020
Blanket Waivers relaxing kickback law restrictions standing in the way of desperately needed COVID-19 tests continue to play a crucial role in the federal government’s response to the Public Health … [Read more...]
Compliance Corner
What to Do If Stark Is Keeping You from Providing Emergency COVID-19 Testing
March 30, 2020
Scenario: A local physician group wants to team up with your lab to provide COVID-19 testing for its Medicare, Medicaid and private pay patients. Although the deal would also be lucrative, the primary … [Read more...]
Compliance Perspectives: New Laws & the Top 5 Challenges Lab Compliance Officers Face in 2020
January 2, 2020
Labs remain at the forefront of the federal government’s suspicious persons list and health care fraud enforcement agenda. But in addition to the customary laws that labs are used to, the government … [Read more...]
ENFORCEMENT
Quest Pays $88.7K to Settle Specimen Collection Fee Kickback Charges Against Its Subsidiary
November 20, 2019
Case: After self-disclosing, Quest has settled kickback claims against its wholly-owned subsidiary, Quest Diagnostics TB LLC, for $88,780. The OIG alleges that from June 2011 to December 2016, the lab … [Read more...]
ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement Trends: New Takedown Is Evidence that Genetic Testing Has Become an Enforcement Priority
October 29, 2019
It’s a pretty good sign that fraudulent billing of genetic lab testing has become a priority for federal fraud enforcers when it gets its very own “takedown.” Known as Operation Double Helix, the … [Read more...]
