On July 11, 2025, in United States v. Schena, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued the first appellate decision interpreting the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (“EKRA”). The decision marks a...more
In the past few months, federal prosecutors in California have brought multiple indictments under the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA) charging the owners of substance abuse treatment facilities and their...more
On August 11, 2025, New Jersey’s Acting Governor, Tahesha Way, signed into law two bills to combat patient brokering and deceptive marketing practices in the Substance Use Disorder (“SUD”) treatment industry. The legislation,...more
Since its enactment in 2018, the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA) has rapidly gained momentum as a powerful tool against healthcare kickbacks. By 2020, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) had already secured its...more
In a matter of first impression, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals interpreted the scope of the 2018 Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA) in the context of a lab operator who allegedly paid marketers to induce...more
On April 9, 2025, OIG posted Advisory Opinion No. 25-02, a favorable advisory opinion allowing a community health center operating under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (the Requestor) to ask individuals, to whom...more
Designed for busy in-house counsel and compliance professionals, this newsletter seeks to bring you up to speed on key federal and state False Claims Act (FCA) developments, with links to primary resources. Each quarter, we...more
Healthcare fraud enforcement continues to be a top priority for federal authorities, with Stark Law violations remaining under particular scrutiny. The complex nature of physician self-referral regulations, combined with...more
On Dec. 11, 2024, the OIG issued a Special Fraud Alert (Alert) related to certain fraud and abuse risks associated with marketing arrangements between Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and health care professionals...more
On December 4, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit heard oral arguments in USA v. Mark Sorensen, case number 24-1557, and it is now taking under advisement a case that could have widespread effects as to what...more
In David Yaffee v. Joseph Skeen, et al., (Filed 11/25/2024, C097746 and C097988), the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, held that evidence of the reasonable value of medical services rendered to an insured...more
In 2024, Stark enforcement remains a critical focus for healthcare providers and regulatory bodies, with a continued focus on excessive compensation and productivity bonuses. Compliance with Stark Law is essential to avoid...more
A multistate coalition of 44 AGs and the U.S. Department of Justice settled with Precision Toxicology, LLC d/b/a Precision Diagnostics, Inc. (Precision) to resolve allegations that it made false claims to multiple federal...more
The Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA), 18 U.S.C. § 220, is a criminal statute that prohibits knowingly and willfully soliciting or receiving remuneration for referring patients to recovery homes, clinical treatment...more
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced on August 20 that National Interventional Radiology Partners PLLC (NIRP) and its founder and CEO will pay $8,884,091 to the United States to resolve...more
Whistleblower Watch is a comprehensive source for all False Claims Act (FCA) news and information. Every quarter, Cozen O’Connor will provide in-house counsel and compliance professionals with a summary of the most notable...more
The Audit Process - While Medicaid audits are meant to ensure integrity and efficiency of the Medicaid Program, they can often be incredibly cumbersome and challenging for medical providers to navigate. During an audit,...more
In early May 2024, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) agreed to pay $38 million to resolve a False Claims Act case based on alleged Stark Law violations. The size of the settlement in United States ex rel. J....more
Phillip Esformes, the alleged mastermind of one of “the largest single criminal health care fraud cases ever brought against individuals by the Department of Justice,”has finally reached a plea deal with the Department of...more
Although often well-intentioned, offering free or discounted items or services to patients (e.g., gifts, rewards, writing off copays, free screening exams, free supplies, etc.) may violate federal and state laws governing...more
A recent Advisory Opinion (No. 23-15) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) concluded that a healthcare consulting company’s plan to offer gift cards to physician practices...more
On December 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and other agencies announced the indictment of Niranjan Mittal, a Brooklyn cardiologist, on multiple fraud charges. Mittal allegedly fabricated...more
Daniel Schulte discusses why dentists should not incentivize patient referrals in The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (November 2023). Question: I would like to add a referral incentive program to attract new...more
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the request of qui tam relators that it review the Sixth Circuit’s recent decision in United States of America ex rel. Martin v. Hathaway, No. 22-1463 (6th Cir.). In so doing, the...more