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
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
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
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
Five years ago Congress enacted the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 (“EKRA”). Aimed at combating kickbacks in the addiction treatment industry, EKRA prohibits remunerations in return for patient referrals to...more
EKRA stands for the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act, and it has become a prominent enforcement tool against fraud in the healthcare and medical testing industries. Although the law was developed in 2018 to help combat...more
Most health care providers have at least a basic understanding of the Anti-Kickback Statute. This federal law prohibits providers from offering, paying, soliciting, or accepting any form of “remuneration” for patient...more
Engineering Firm Settles $37 Million False Claims Act Allegations - As part of a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice, QuantaDyn Corporation has agreed to pay $37,757,713.91 in restitution to resolve...more
In this week's episode, Limo Cherian, Carla Dewberry, and Steve Pine discuss EKRA - the 'Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018,' which introduces new criminal penalties for kickbacks associated with referrals to...more
What appears to be the United States’ first conviction under the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (“EKRA”) occurred last month when the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky accepted the...more