The federal government recently accused an orthopedic surgeon from Texas of False Claims Act violations. The health care fraud crimes the physician face allegedly included illegal kickbacks. More specifically, the Department of Justice (DOJ) accused the specialist of taking payouts from OK Compounding in exchange for prescribing on of their medications for a span of approximately two years.
Physicians & health care fraud: 3 FAQs about the False Claims Act
There are certain federal laws that impact a physician no matter where they practice medicine. One example is the False Claims Act (FCA). This law essentially makes it illegal to submit claims for payment from Medicare or Medicaid that the physician knows or should have known was a false or fraudulent claim.
TX case highlights DOJ's $3B in health care fraud winnings
Yes, billions. The Department of Justice (DOJ) continues its crackdown on health care fraud violations in part because it results in large payouts. In 2019, the federal agency reports it recovered over $3 billion from settlements and judgements for False Claims Act violations.
