Archive

February 27, 2023

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (“UPMC”), University of Pittsburgh Physicians (“UPP”), and Dr. James Luketich have agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a False Claims Act suit launched by a former UPMC surgeon, Dr. Jonathan D’Cunha.  According to the qui tam suit, which was joined by the government, Dr. Luketich regularly billed Medicare for concurrently performed complex cardiothoracic surgeries, often as many as three at a time, in violation of statutes and regulations.  The practice increased the risk of surgical complications to patients, as it meant the physician was not present for key portions of the surgeries, and patients were under anesthesia for longer than necessary.  USAO WDPA

February 13, 2023

Spacelabs Healthcare, LLC has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle claims of violating the False Claims Act by overcharging the Department of Veteran Affairs and Department of Defense between 2014 and 2019.  According to a qui tam suit filed by two former Spacelabs employees, Marci Gebhardt and Christopher Kelley, the company agreed to contract clauses in which they would sell patient monitoring equipment to the government at lower rates.  However, Spacelabs then failed to comply when billing the VA and Defense Logistics Agency.  For their role in bringing a successful enforcement action, Gebhardt and Kelley will share in a $437,500 reward.  DOJ

February 10, 2023

A public organization working on behalf of the City of Detroit and the Detroit Building Authority has agreed to pay the federal government $1.5 million to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act.  In connection with a project to demolish blighted properties in the city, the Detroit Land Bank Authority (“DLBA”) allegedly paid demolition contractors for six years’ worth of unsubstantiated backfill dirt costs using funds from the Hardest Hit Fund, which is funded by the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program.  USAO EDMI

February 7, 2023

United Energy Workers Healthcare, Corp., which provides home health services in multiple states, has paid $9 million to resolve allegations of submitting false claims to the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of beneficiaries of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).  Multiple whistleblowers alleged that between 2013 and 2021, the defendant and related entities billed for services that were either not covered under EEOICPA program rules, not medically necessary, not provided by appropriately licensed individuals, or not provided entirely.  USAO SDOH