Earlier this week following a three-day bench trial, the owner of, and a licensed mental health counselor at, a Tallahassee-based counseling center, were found guilty of health care fraud conspiracy, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft.... Read More
Recently, three operators of a Wisconsin CBD dispensary were arrested and are awaiting felony drug charges after failing to comply with the state law. The investigation into the dispensary began when two minors consumed a CBD-related products... Read More
In a recent trend, the government is increasing investigations and prosecutions of pharmacies alleging health care fraud and False Claims Act (“FCA”) violations based on inventory shortages. Multiple governmental offices, including the... Read More
On February 4, 2021, the Attorneys General of 47 states announced a $573 million joint settlement with the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company. The settlement, in which McKinsey did not admit wrongdoing, was predicated on McKinsey’s... Read More
The Department of Justice (“DOJ” or the “Government”) and Bartell Drug, Inc. (“Bartell”), a Washington State pharmacy chain of approximately 70 pharmacies, recently reached a civil settlement in which Bartell agreed to pay a fine... Read More
A compounding pharmacy based in Kentucky, and its owner, admitted on October 29, 2020 in federal court to unlawful distribution of compounded prescription drugs. The Pharmacy pleaded guilty to unlawful distribution of substances that the FDA had... Read More
You may have heard the phrase "CMS investigation." Unlike a CMS audit, which is administrative in nature, a CMS investigation usually connotes a federal criminal investigation of suspected health care fraud. A CMS investigation will likely be... Read More
On September 9, 2020, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced an acute care hospital located in West Virginia (Hospital) agreed to pay the United States a total of Five-Hundred Million Dollars to resolve claims that it violated the Federal False... Read More
Inspections are not uncommon in the world of healthcare and life sciences. State licensing boards, DEA, and other oversight agencies at times assert a right to inspect a medical practice or pharmacy. They usually show up unscheduled and at an... Read More
In a continuing effort by various federal and state agencies to stop COVID-19 related frauds, the FDA has implemented “Operation Quack Hack.” As such, the FDA has issued close to 50 warning letters, and estimates that it will issue hundreds more... Read More
