A recent survey found that the False Claims Act, with its whistleblower provisions, is among the top issues worrying lawyers at health care systems nationwide.
Recent headlines may help explain why. Last month, for example, hospital service provider TeamHealth Holdings agreed to pay $60 million plus interest to settle allegations that a fellow physician services company it had recently acquired violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare, Medicaid, the Defense Health Agency and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for more expensive medical services than actually were performed. The lawsuit was filed by a physician whistleblower who will receive $11.4 million for his share of the recovery.
