Qui tam news stories

Healthcare fraud

Qui tam lawsuits have been used to stop many types of Medicare and Medicaid fraud. This includes cost report fraud, billing for unnecessary medical services and billing for services never provided.

Phillips & Cohen attorneys have represented whistleblowers in a wide range of successful qui tam cases against hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical labs, doctor practice groups and other healthcare providers for Medicare fraud. Below is a selective list of those cases and news articles written about them.

• TAP Pharmaceuticals
• HCA, the nation’s largest for-profit healthcare provider
• National Health Laboratories Inc.
• Quorum Health Group Inc.
• MetPath Inc. and MetWest Inc.
• Cigna Corp. and Lovelace Health System
• SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories
• Corning’s MetPath division and MetWest (Unilab Corp.)
• Damon Clinical Laboratories Inc. (Corning Clinical Laboratories Inc.)
• Tenet Healthcare Corp. and Brotman Medical Center
• KPMG LLP
• Hewlett-Packard, Agilent
• Sharp Memorial Hospital
• Omnicare Inc.
• Genesee Valley Cardiothoracic Group

TAP Pharmaceuticals: The pharmaceutical company paid $875 million to settle criminal charges and two qui tam lawsuits, including one brought by whistleblowers represented by Phillips & Cohen attorneys. It was the largest health care fraud settlement ever paid to the U.S. Treasury. The government and whistleblowers alleged that the company had paid illegal kickbacks to doctors to prescribe one of its drugs.

• “TAP Pharmaceutical to pay $875M to settle whistleblower charges of fraudulent pricing,” BNA’s Federal Contracts Report, 10/30/01.
• “Record settlement on TAP; drugmaker pleads guilty to criminal violations,” Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, 10/8/01.
  
• “A cure for fraud: Weston doctor saves taxpayers millions by blowing whistle,” Alice Dembner, Boston Globe, 10/7/01.
• “Doctor’s outrage stings TAP; escalating offer turns internist into whistleblower,” Bruce Japsen, Laurie Cohen and Andrew Zajac, Chicago Tribune, 10/7/01.
• “Cancer drug probe nets $875 million settlement,” Bruce Japsen, Andrew Zajac and Laurie Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 10/4/01.
• “Two drug makers to pay $875 million to settle fraud case,” Melody Petersen, The New York Times, 10/4/01.
• “TAP Pharmaceuticals fined $875 million,” Julie Appleby, USA Today, 10/4/01.
• “Drugmaker to pay $875 million fine,” Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/4/01.
• “Venture involving Abbott settles,” Francine Knowles, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/4/01.
• “Drug firm to pay $875m fine for fraud,” Alice Dembner, Boston Globe, 10/4/01.

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HCA: HCA, the nation’s largest for-profit healthcare provider, paid $631 million to settle three qui tam lawsuits, including two brought by whistleblowers represented by Phillips & Cohen. Two years earlier, HCA paid $840 million to settle criminal charges and other qui tam lawsuits. That agreement included $92 million to settle another whistleblower lawsuit brought by Phillips & Cohen clients.

“HCA case holds lessons for corporate world,” Tennessean, 12/28/02.

• “DOJ, HCA reach tentative $631M agreement to settle allegations of health care fraud,” BNA’s Federal Contracts Report,” 12/24/02.
• “HCA’s accusers may challenge U.S. settlement,” Barbara Martinez, The Wall Street Journal, 12/19/02.
• “HCA says fraud settlement is near,” Daily Journal, 12/19/02.
• “HCA reported in agreement to settle fraud case,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 12/18/02.
• “Hospital chain ends fraud case,” Associated Press, 12/18/02.
• “Grassley questions tentative agreement to resolve Medicare cost report issues,” BNA’s Health Care Fraud Report, 11/27/02.
• “Grassley questions U.S. settlement with HCA Inc.,” Sarah Lueck, The Wall Street Journal, 11/20/02.
• “Justice Dept. delays big Medicare fraud settlement,” Robert Pear, The New York Times, 11/18/02.
• “Discovery contretemps linger in HCA litigation,” Hospital Compliance Wire, 9/24/02.
• “Close of HCA criminal probe called good news for civil case whistleblowers,” BNA’s Health Care Fraud Report, 8/7/02.
• “HCA reaches agreement with U.S. on Medicare reports,” Kristen Hallam, Bloomberg News, 3/28/02.
• “Ruling triggers next round in HCA-Justice dispute,” Bill Lewis, Tennessean, 3/26/02.
• “HCA, U.S. settlement may speed up after court ruling,” Keith Snider, Bloomberg News, 3/25/02.
• “Grassley warns U.S. Medicare chief not to hinder HCA fraud case,” Keith Snider, Bloomberg News, 3/14/02.
• “Justice’s Medicare fraud case against HCA hits resistance,” Barbara Martinez and Sarah Lueck, The Wall Street Journal, 3/14/02.
• “HCA may see Medicare-fraud woes resurface,” Barbara Martinez, The Wall Street Journal, 2/27/02.
• “Suppose feds don’t depose: HCA seeks to prevent employee testimony,” Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, 2/18/02.
• “HCA asks Justice if executives are facing charges,” Bill Lewis, Tennessean, 2/16/02.
• “HCA asks judge to name executives targeted for fraud,” Keith Snider, Bloomberg News, 2/15/02.
• “Order signed approving payment by HCA on $745 million settlement, relators’ share,” BNA’s Health Care Fraud Report, 8/22/01.
• “HCA’s $745 million fraud settlement approved by U.S. judge,” Keith Snider, Bloomberg News, 8/7/01.
• “HCA faces new U.S. filings on Medicare,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 3/19/01.
• “Government joins suits against hospital giant,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 3/17/01.
• “HCA faces new fraud charges,” Bill Brubaker, The Washington Post, 3/17/01.
• “Justice Department says HCA owes ‘hundreds of millions’ in fraud case,” Keith Russell, Tennessean, 3/17/01.
• “U.S. accuses HCA of Medicare fraud,” Glenn Singer, Sun-Sentinel, 3/17/01.
• “U.S. to seek $400 million more at HCA,” The New York Times, 3/16/01.
• “HCA lawsuit raises issues dating back to 1987,” Keith Russell, Tennessean, 3/16/01.
• “HCA faces civil fraud allegations,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 3/16/01.
• “HCA-Healthcare may be facing another charge,” Los Angeles Times, 3/16/01.
• “HCA agrees to pay U.S. $840 million to settle criminal, civil allegations,” Health Care Fraud Report, 1/10/01.
• “HCA to pay record $840 million to settle criminal, civil charges of Medicare fraud,” Federal Contracts Report, ½/01.
• “HCA to pay $95 million in fraud case,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 12/15/00.
• “HCA units’ guilty pleas resolve largest Medicare criminal probe,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 12/15/00.
• “Payout to end HCA criminal charges,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 12/15/00.
• “HCA to pay $95 million in fines,” Bill Brubaker, The Washington Post, 12/15/00.
• “$745 million and far to go,” Barbara Kirchheimer and Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, May 23, 2000.
• “Two Utah doctors were whistleblowers in Columbia/HCA fraud investigation,” Phil Sahm, The Salt Lake Tribune, May 20, 2000.
• “Hospital company agrees to pay $745 million in U.S. fraud case,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, May 19, 2000.
• “Columbia/HCA to pay the U.S. $745 million,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2000.
• “Hospital chain to settle case,” Bill Brubaker, The Washington Post, May 19, 2000.
• “Columbia agrees to pay $745m penalty,” Julie Appleby, USA Today, May 19, 2000.
• “Columbia/HCA to pay $745 million in Medicare fraud,” Michael A. Hiltzik and Alissa J. Rubin, Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2000.
• “Columbia set to pay $745 million,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, May 19, 2000.
• “Columbia/HCA offers $745 million settlement,” Keith Snider, The Tennessean, May 19, 2000.
• “Settlement likely to cut into Columbia/HCA earnings,” Keith Russell, The Tennessean, May 19, 2000.
• “Columbia faces more legal pressure,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 7/20/99.
• “Columbia/HCA execs found guilty of fraud; fuels federal investigation of company,” Health Care Fraud Report, 7/14/99.
• “More charges appear likely,” Keith Snider, The Tennessean, 7/7/99.
• “Columbia/HCA healthcare convictions may bolster case for civil settlement,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 7/6/99.
• “Two found guilty of hospital fraud charges,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 7/3/99.
• “Jury finds two Columbia execs guilty of fraud,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 7/3/99.
• “Defense’s turn nears in Columbia trial,” Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, 6/7/99.
• “KPMG named in whistleblower suit involving Columbia/HCA,” Federal Contracts Report, 6/7/99.
• “KPMG is accused by whistleblower of aiding Columbia/HCA in fraud,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 6/1/99.
• “Accounting firm is named in Medicare fraud lawsuit,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 5/29/99.
• “Columbia fraud case heads to trial,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 5/1/99.
• “Federal case’s scope clouding Columbia/HCA negotiations,” Keith Snider, The Tennessean, 3/7/99.
• “U.S. agency files motion to consolidate fraud cases against Columbia/HCA,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 2/16/99.
• “U.S. amends suit against Columbia and Quorum, alleging pattern of fraud,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 2/3/99.
• “Justice Department intervenes in second Columbia/HCA whistleblower case,” Federal Contracts Report, 1/4/99.
• "U.S. is joining 2d suit against hospital chain," Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 12/31/98.
• "U.S. joins second suit alleging fraud by Columbia Healthcare," Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 12/31/98.
• "Justice Dept. joins suit against Columbia/HCA; whistleblower alleges Medicare fraud," David S. Hilzenrath, The Washington Post, 12/31/98.
• “Justice on board in HCA fraud suit,” J. Josef Hebert, The Washington Times, 12/31/98.
• “Columbia faces second suit,” Sarah Huntley, The Tampa Tribune, 12/31/98.
• “Feds join second suit against Columbia,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 12/31/98.
• “No end in sight: Five-year probe of Columbia, Quorum keeps growing,” Kristen Hallam, Modern Healthcare, 11/9/98.
• “Patiently, and now with help, whistleblower waits,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 11/5/98.
• “Columbia probe has deep roots,” Kristen Hallam and Deanna Bellandi, Modern Healthcare, 10/26/98.
• “U.S. joins, unseals whistleblower lawsuit alleging Columbia/HCA, Quorum fraud,” Drew Douglas, Health Care Fraud Report, 10/21/98.
• “He blew the whistle, and health giants quaked,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, Oct. 18, 1998.
• “Making it a federal case; suit alleges widespread fraud by Columbia, Quorum,” Deanna Bellandi and Kristen Hallam, Modern Healthcare, 10/12/98.
• "U.S. suit charges fraud by two big hospital chains," Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 10/6/98.
• "Justice Department joins lawsuit against Columbia/HCA, Quorum," Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 10/6/98.
• "Justice joins Columbia/HCA lawsuit," Tom Lowry, USA Today, 10/6/98.
• "U.S. in suit against Columbia/HCA," Robert A. Rosenblatt, Los Angeles Times, 10/6/98.
• "Justice Department joins civil lawsuit against Columbia, Quorum," Miami Herald, 10/6/98.
• "Government joins Columbia civil lawsuit," Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 10/6/98.
• “Government joins civil suit against Columbia/HCA, Quorum,” Julie Bell, The Tennessean, 10/6/98.
• “Government joins in whistleblower lawsuit charging Columbia/HCA with Medicare fraud,” Federal Contracts Report, 10/5/98.

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National Health Laboratories Inc.: NHL paid $110 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that charged the company routinely billed Medicare for unnecessary blood tests.

• "Lab firm to pay $110 million in blood test fraud," Dana Priest, The Washington Post, 12/19/92.
• “$110 million payment set for fraud in health claims,” Calvin Sims, The New York Times, 12/19/92.

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Quorum Health Group Inc.: Quorum, formerly the nation’s largest hospital management company, paid $85.7 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged it had systematically defrauded Medicare for years by filing fraudulent Medicare “cost reports.” A court awarded James Alderson 24 percent, nearly the allowable maximum, of the recovery for his contributions to the case and the work by his attorneys, Phillips & Cohen.

• “A big win for whistleblower; judge raises percentage Alderson to receive in Quorum settlement,” Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, 10/15/01.
• “Alderson gets $20.6 million in fraud case,” Lynette Hintze, The Daily InterLake, 10/12/01.
• “Whistleblower gets $20.5 million of fraud settlement,” Getahn Ward, Tennessean, 10/11/01.
• “Big hospital manager settles two fraud suits,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 10/3/00.
• “Quorum to pay $95.5 million to settle two outstanding Medicare-fraud suits,” Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 10/3/00.
• “Quorum will settle fraud lawsuits for $95.5 million,” Keith Russell, The Tennessean, 10/3/00.
• “Quorum settles Medicare dispute,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 10/3/00.
• “Quorum settles Whitefish whistleblower case,” Lynnette Hintze, The Daily Inter Lake, 10/3/00.
• “Hospital subpoenas part of Quorum probe,” Barbara Kirchheimer, Modern Healthcare, 4/5/99.
• “Subpoenas issued in Quorum suit,” The New York Times, 4/1/99.
• “Subpoenas reignite Quorum civil probe,” The Tennessean, 4/1/99.
• “Hospitals owned by Quorum said to overbill by $50 million,” The New York Times, 2/3/99.
• “No end in sight: Five-year probe of Columbia, Quorum keeps growing,” Kristen Hallam, Modern Healthcare, 11/9/98.
• “Patiently, and now with help, whistleblower waits,” Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 11/5/98.
• “Columbia probe has deep roots,” Kristen Hallam and Deanna Bellandi, Modern Healthcare, 10/26/98.
• “U.S. joins, unseals whistleblower lawsuit alleging Columbia/HCA, Quorum fraud,” Drew Douglas, Health Care Fraud Report, 10/21/98.
• “He blew the whistle, and health giants quaked,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, Oct. 18, 1998.

• “Making it a federal case; suit alleges widespread fraud by Columbia, Quorum,” Deanna Bellandi and Kristen Hallam, Modern Healthcare, 10/12/98.
• "U.S. suit charges fraud by two big hospital chains," Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 10/6/98.
• "Justice Department joins lawsuit against Columbia/HCA, Quorum," Lucette Lagnado, The Wall Street Journal, 10/6/98.
• "Justice joins Columbia/HCA lawsuit," Tom Lowry, USA Today, 10/6/98.
• "U.S. in suit against Columbia/HCA," Robert A. Rosenblatt, Los Angeles Times, 10/6/98.
• "Justice Department joins civil lawsuit against Columbia, Quorum," Miami Herald, 10/6/98.
• "Government joins Columbia civil lawsuit," Kris Hundley, St. Petersburg Times, 10/6/98.
• “Government joins civil suit against Columbia/HCA, Quorum,” Julie Bell, The Tennessean, 10/6/98.
• “Government joins in whistleblower lawsuit charging Columbia/HCA with Medicare fraud,” Federal Contracts Report, 10/5/98.

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Corning’s MetPath division and MetWest (Unilab Corp.):The two medical laboratories paid a total of $39.8 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged MetPath and MetWest had billed Medicare for unnecessary blood tests.

• “Blood-testing labs pay U.S. $39.8 million,” Spencer Rich, The Washington Post, 9/14/93.
• “Corning unit, Unilab pay $39.8 million to settle allegations of Medicare fraud,” Rhonda L. Rundle, Wall Street Journal, 9/14/93.

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Cigna Corp. and Lovelace Health System: Lovelace Health System, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cigna Corp., paid the federal government $24.5 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit alleging the hospital routinely made false claims for reimbursement in "cost reports" and "cost‑report reopenings" from 1988 to 1998. The qui tam lawsuit also said Lovelace failed to report that it had received Medicare overpayments.

• “Lovelace system pays $24.5 million to resolve Medicare reporting issues,” BNA’s Health Care Fraud Report, 12/11/02.
• “Lovelace pays feds $24.5 million,” Winthrop Quigley, Albuquerque Journal, 12/5/02.
• “Lovelace to pay $24.5 million to settle fraud probe,” Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, 12/4/02.
• “Cigna agrees to pay $24.5 million to settle fraud case, U.S. says,” Keith Snider, Bloomberg News, 12/4/02.

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SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories:SmithKline paid $13 million to settle a Phillips & Cohen qui tam case as part of a $325 million settlement. The whistleblowers and federal government claimed that the company performed unnecessary tests, billed for tests that weren’t performed and gave physicians inducements to use SmithKline.

• Anatomy of biggest whistleblower recovery yet,” Anne Paxton, Laboratory Industry Report, March-April 1997.
• “SmithKline to pay $325 million to settle federal claims of lab-billing fraud,” Elyse Tanouye, The Wall Street Journal, 2/25/97.
• “Drug firm to pay $325 million for overbilling,” The New York Times, 2/25/97.
• “Lab pays U.S. $325 million for overbilling,” Roberto Suro, The Washington Post, 2/25/97.
• “Laboratory firm settles fraud case,” Mark Johnson, The Richmond Times Dispatch, 2/25/97.
• “Drug firm pays $325m in fraud case; settlement for overbilling is second largest of its kind,” Steven Findlay, USA Today, 2/25/97.
• “SmithKline to pay $325 million in whistleblower suit,” Shannon P. Duffy, The Legal Intelligencer,” 2/25/97.
• “Laboratory firm settles fraud case,” Mark Johnson, The Richmond Times Dispatch, 2/25/97.
• “Drug firm pays $325M in fraud case,” Steven Findlay, USA Today, 2/25/97.

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MetPath (Corning Clinical Laboratories Inc.) and Unilab Corp.: The two independent medical testing labs paid a total of $11 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit charging that they had overbilled Medicare and other government health-insurance programs by performing blood tests that had not been ordered.

• “Corning Labs deal halts suit,” Jerry DeMarco, The Record, 9/20/96.
• “Two labs will pay $11 million to settle overcharging case,” The San Francisco Daily Journal, 9/30/96.
• “Unilab, Corning settle with feds for $11 mil,” The Dark Report, 9/23/96.

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Damon Clinical Laboratories Inc. (Corning Clinical Laboratories Inc.): Damon paid $9.8 million to settle a whistleblower case brought by Phillips & Cohen as part of a $119 million settlement. That qui tam lawsuit and a separate one said Damon had defrauded Medicare by performing and billing for unnecessary medical tests.

• “Corning to pay largest lab fraud probe penalty,” Lisa Scott, Modern Healthcare, 10/14/96.
• “Guilty plea OK’d in record $119m health-fraud case,” Ralph Ranalli, The Boston Herald, 10/11/96.
• “Whistleblowers were ‘disgusted’ by scam,” Mark Muellert, The Boston Herald, 10/11/96.
• “Corning to pay $119 million to settle a case of Medicare billing by Damon,” Paulette Thomas, The Wall Street Journal, 10/10/96.
• “Corning will plead guilty to Medicare fraud,” Milt Freudenheim, The New York Times, 10/10/96.
• “Needham lab fined $119m for fraud,” Kimberly Blanton, The Boston Globe, 10/10/96.
• “Blowing the whistle has big rewards,” Tina Cassidy, The Boston Globe, 10/10/96.
• “Lab fined a record $119m for med scam,” Ralph Ranalli, The Boston Herald, 10/10/96.

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Tenet Healthcare Corp. and Brotman Medical Center: Tenet paid $9.75 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit brought by Phillips & Cohen that alleged Brotman, which Tenet owns and operates, filed fraudulent Medicare cost reports. The case was part of a $55.75 million settlement with the federal government.

• “Tenet Healthcare to pay $56M to resolve allegations of Medicare fraud,” BNA’s Federal Contracts Report, 6/25/02.
• “Playing it cool: Tenet keeps calm, will pay $56 million to settle billing fraud allegations at hospital,” Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, 6/24/02.
• “Tenet Healthcare agrees to pay $55.8 million to settle inquiries,” Rhonda L. Rundle, The Wall Street Journal, 6/19/02.
• “Hospital settles billing case,” John Dorschner, The Miami Herald, 6/19/02.
• “California Tenet’s $55.8 million payment settles claims,” Los Angeles Times, 6/19/02.
• “Tenet to pay $55.8 million to settle billing probe,” Deborah Stern, Bloomberg News, 6/18/02.

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KPMG: KPMG paid $9 million to settle a qui tam lawsuit that alleged the accounting firm helped hospital chain HCA prepare and later conceal fraudulent claims in Medicare “cost reports” that cost the program millions of dollars.

• “KPMG is paying $9 million to settle medical fraud case,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 10/24/01.
• “KPMG to pay the U.S. $9 million to end suit tied to HCA scandal,” Jonathan Weil, The Wall Street Journal, 10/24/01.
• “KPMG settles HCA-related fraud suit with U.S. for $9 million,” Keith Snider, Bloomberg News, 10/23/01.
• “KPMG to pay $9 million settlement,” Associated Press, 10/23/01.
• KPMG settles HCA-related medical fraud charges,” Reuters, 10/23/01.
• “Whistleblower to receive $20 million share of Quorum settlement agreement,” BNA’s Healthcare Fraud Report, 10/17/01.
• “Bean counters beware: Feds join lawsuit against KPMG, sending message about liability throughout industry,” Mark Taylor, Modern Healthcare, 12/11/00.
• “Justice Department joining in lawsuit against KPMG,” Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times, 12/5/00.

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Hewlett Packard Co. and Agilent Technologies Inc.: Hewlett Packard and Agilent, which was spun off from HP, paid a total of $7 million to the federal government to settle a qui tam case that said the companies had knowingly sold defective medical monitoring devices to federal government agencies and failed to investigate or correct the problems. This included patient monitors, oxygen monitors (known as pulse oximeters) and equipment to monitor anesthesia.

• “Hewlett-Packard, Agilent to pay $7M to settle whistleblower charges they sold defective medical devices to DOD, VA,” BNA’s Federal Contracts Report, 8/8/02.
• “Qui tam case against Hewlett-Packard results in $7 million settlement with U.S.,” BNA’s Health Care Fraud Report, 8/7/02.
• “Hewlett-Packard pays $7M on defective medical monitoring device allegations,” Millin’s Health Fraud Monitor, 8/5/02.
• “Suit on faulty medical devices settled,” Houston Chronicle, 7/31/02.
• “Agilent to pay U.S., former employee $7M to settle medical equipment case,” Louise Story, Boston Globe, 7/31/02.
• “Ex-worker, feds to get $7 million from Agilent, HP,” San Francisco Chronicle, 7/31/02.
• “Hewlett-Packard, Agilent to pay $7 mln over equipment claims,” William McQuillen, Bloomberg News, 7/30/02.

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Sharp Memorial Hospital: The San Diego hospital paid $6.2 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged it defrauded Medicare by filing fraudulent claims for reimbursement for costs associated with its heart and kidney transplant centers.

• “Hospital agrees to pay $6.2 million to resolve charges of misstated costs,” BNA’s Health Care Fraud Report, 3/19/03.
• “Nurse turned whistleblower alleges hospital manipulated cost-report logs,” Report on Medicare Compliance, 3/13/03.
  
• “Sharp will pay $6.2 million to settle whistleblower suit,” Cheryl Clark, San Diego Union Tribune, 3/7/03.
• “Sharp Memorial to pay $6.2 million to settle Medicare fraud,” Seth Hettena, Associated Press, 3/6/03.

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Omnicare Inc.: The geriatric pharmaceutical care company paid $5.3 million to settle a qui tam lawsuit and civil charges of Medicaid fraud. The lawsuit and government charged that an Omnicare subsidiary in Illinois routinely recycled the unused drugs of dead nursing home patients and re-sold them to Medicaid for other nursing home patients.

• “Omnicare pays $5.3 million to settle Medicaid whistleblower case,” Health Care Fraud Report, 5/6/98.
• “Omnicare pays $5.3 million to settle Medicaid whistleblower case alleging drug recycling,” Federal Contracts Report, 4/27/98.
• “Omnicare unit settles case for $5.3m,” Tom Lowry, USA Today, 4/22/98.
• “Whistleblowers get $217,000 in pharmacy firm’s fraud settlement,” Roy Malone, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4/22/98.
• “Omnicare pays $5.3m settlement,” Ursula Miller, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/22/98.
• “Omnicare pays $5.3m to end drug complaint,” Nick Miller, The Cincinnati Post, 4/22/98.

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Genesee Valley Cardiothoracic Group: The Rochester cardiac surgery group paid $2 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that charged it illegally billed Medicare for the services of surgical assistants.

• “Heart bypass unit fined $2 million; surgeons at General illegally billed Medicare,” Gary Craig, Democrat and Chronicle, 2/2/01.

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