ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Fraudulent Ambulance Charges Uncovered
False Claims Act Suit
Whistleblower/qui tam cases brought under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) typically involve direct, illegal claims for reimbursement or fraudulent billing under government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. A recent case involved the alleged practice of “up coding,” where providers inflated claims submitted to Medicare or Medicaid by misrepresenting the complexity or emergency nature of the services provided. Evans Law Firm was not involved in this case in any way but the case sheds new light on how the government is targeting “up coding” as a source of fraudulent billing and false claims. Our attorneys have extensive experience with whistleblower/qui tam cases under the federal and California False Claims Acts, including cases of fraudulent billing, government contractor fraud, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, and whistleblower cases of tax avoidance schemes and securities and investment fraud. If you have credible information for a whistleblower or qui tam case, call the Evans Law Firm Inc. today at (415) 441-8669.
The False Claims Act entitles private individuals, acting as whistleblowers or “relators,” to bring private actions against parties who have submitted false claims to the government for reimbursements or contract awards. The relator (or “whistleblower”) in this case was a former paramedic who alleged two forms of healthcare fraud: billing for non-emergency ambulance trips at a higher emergency rate and charging for ambulance trips that were not appropriate or medically necessary. In addition, the relator claimed that he was wrongfully terminated for questioning what appeared to be improper and fraudulent billing practices. The case settled for over $2.5 million and the whistleblower/relator will receive a share of the settlement payment.
Whistleblower/qui tam cases are long and very complex. This particular case involved over two years of federal and State investigation. Whistleblower or qui tam cases begin with original and credible information of false claims and include hard documentation and other evidence supporting that information. We here at Evans Law Firm have years of experience with whistleblower and qui tam cases brought under the False Claims Act and US tax laws against tax avoidance schemes. We know what the kind of evidence the government looks for in these cases and know how best to structure, organize, and present your evidence and documentation through initial application or complaint, discovery and investigation, and trial and/or settlement negotiations.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has information regarding a whistleblower or qui tam case in any California county brought under the False Claims Act for Medicare and Medicaid fraud or other false claims or under the Internal Revenue Code for prosecution of tax avoidance schemes including offshore schemes, contact the Evans Law Firm whistleblower and qui tam attorneys at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our attorneys have experience with large whistleblower cases, complex financial contract litigation, and large insurance companies. We can help guide your case through whistleblower false claims applications, discovery and investigation, a jury trial or toward an equitable settlement. We also handle cases involving physical and financial elder abuse, nursing home abuse, whole life insurance and universal life insurance, and indexed, variable, and fixed annuities.
