U S files suit against Renal Care Group for Medicare Billing Fraud
The St. Louis Business Journal reports that the United States filed a civil complaint against Renal Care Group, Renal Care Group Supply Co. and Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc. alleging that the firms fraudulently billed the Medicare program for supplies and equipment provided to End Stage Renal Disease patients, according to U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway, out of Kansas City.
The lawsuit was filed as a qui tam lawsuit, which are usually filed by private individuals on behalf of the government. These type lawsuits are normally sealed and are often associated with whistleblower accusations. Due to the false claims presented to the United States by defendants, the United States has suffered damages and is seeking multiple damages under the False Claims Act, to be determined at trial, plus a civil penalty of $5,500 to $11,000 for each fraudulent claim presented for payment.
Let's hope that the relators or whistleblowers that were involved in the qui tam suit have all their documentation and have sought legal counsel on how to protect their rights for the relator's portion of the government's settlement. There are so many whistleblowers that are denied relator claims because they did not follow the proper steps to protect themselves before they brought their case to the proper authorities.
As fomer Federal Prosecutor, Brian F. LaBovick, mentioned in a previous post on the Whistle Blower Law Blog, you need to follow a few steps when preparing to file a qui tam whistleblower claim. Consult with an attorney that understands and handles qui tam claims. This can make the difference between getting a thank you from the government or a check in the amount of up to 30% of what the government recovers. Unfortunately, the whistleblower has to protect their interest first, and that is not only gathering the documentation and proof. If you have a potential qui tam claim, contact the civil justice prosecutors at LaBovick & LaBovick. They are former Federal Prosecutors and understand how to bring a case on behalf of the government. Consultations are confidential and FREE. Act quickly, protect your rights.
The Whistleblower Law Blog is presented as a service of the Private Law Firm, LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A., Civil Justice Prosecutors. LaBovick & LaBovick is a Plaintiff's firm that represents whistleblowers in Florida and throughout the nation in qui tam (False Claims Act) litigation.
