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Physician Supervision Requirements under CMS Regulations – False Claims Act Cases on the Rise

In 2013, the Department of Justice collected over $3.8 billion in qui tam and non-qui tam settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). Of the total amount collected, $2.7 billion, or 70% were in cases in which the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) was the primary client agency. In comparison, cases from the Department of Defense represented just 1% of the total collections. Surprisingly, the total numbers for 2013 were actually slightly lower than 2012 numbers. In 2012, total collections were $4.9 billion, with HHS cases representing $3.1 billion, or 63%.

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CMS Issues Proposed Rule on Reporting and Returning Overpayments

One of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) that has gotten a great deal of attention is Section 6402(a), which requires a person who receives an overpayment to report and return the funds within 60 days after the overpayment is identified (or the date any corresponding cost report is due, if applicable.) The provision is significant because the failure to report and return overpayments creates False Claims Act liability, exposure to Civil Monetary Penalties, and potentially exclusion from participation in the federal programs.

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Health Care Fraud: Newest Numbers and Enforcement Actions

The U.S. Justice Department recently announced that it recovered more than $3 billion in settlements and judgments in civil health care and war-related fraud cases in the last fiscal year. The vast majority of the $3 billion—$2.8 billion—was recovered under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA). Additionally, of the $3 billion, $2.4 billion involved health care fraud, most of which was attributed to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Since January 2009, the Department has recovered $8.7 billion ($6.6 billion attributable to federal health care dollars), which is the largest three year total in the Department’s history.

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Third Circuit Adopts Implied False Certification Liability under False Claims Act

“Men must turn square corners when they deal with the government.” While Justice Holmes penned the above quote in a different context, it was recently invoked by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in its decision to adopt the implied false certification theory for liability under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). In United States ex rel Wilkins v. United Health Group, the Third Circuit joined the Second, Sixth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and District of Columbia Circuits in recognizing that healthcare providers can be liable under the FCA if the provider makes a claim for payment without disclosing that it violated regulations that affect its eligibility for payment.

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The Office of Inspector General sets its sights on hospice care in nursing homes

On September 8, 2009, the Office of Inspector General posted an eye-catching report on Medicare hospice care in nursing facilities. The OIG found that 82 percent of hospice claims for beneficiaries in nursing facilities did not meet at least one Medicare coverage requirement. The Medicare hospice benefit allows a beneficiary with a terminal illness to forgo curative treatment for the illness and instead receive palliative care. Medicare paid approximately $1.8 billion for these claims.

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