Hospital in California Allegedly Involved in a Healthcare Fraud Including Kickbacks, Justice Claims $600 Million in Return
ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
In California, the Pacific Hospital is involved in a healthcare fraud case with an alleged $600 million in falsified billing in an eight-year period. The scheme was allegedly created by the leadership of the hospital and doctors. It is charged that when doctors had patients who needed a spinal surgery, they led them to the hospital, even if it was far away from their home. In exchange, the hospitals gave kickbacks and bribes to the doctors.
Federal Prosecutors claim the money came from the California worker’s compensation system and the federal government. If that is the case, it means the hospital and doctors profited from everyone who works in California and used taxpayer money to finance potentially unnecessary surgery. Moreover, doctors had a conflict of interest in their treatment advice and the patients were treated like merchandise. Health and life are not goods which should be the items of a market, and our California IRS whistleblower lawyers feel that no one should get rich by taking advantage of something so important. It is important that those who know about such abuse become whistleblowers and file a qui tam suit.
Undermining the Foundation of Our Healthcare System
While it’s not clear to what extent patients were directly harmed by this scheme, there can be no compromise in ensuring that the medical field is free from corruption. Healthcare fraud is one of the most serious areas for false claims act, whistleblower and qui tam cases. If physicians start making decisions based on bribes or other monetary compensation, rather than the welfare of their patients, it undermines the entire foundation of our healthcare system. The amount of money involved in caring for the sick is staggering, but it is the duty of doctors to resist the temptation to take more than their share.
Protecting What’s Important
If you know of any healthcare fraud being carried out by doctors, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, or others, contact a San Francisco whistleblower lawyer at the Evans Law Firm by calling (415) 441-8669 or emailing info@evanslaw.com. Evans Law Firm handle qui tam and whistleblower cases, healthcare, insurance, annuity, and banking fraud, as well as financial and physical elder abuse and nursing home abuse.
