whistleblowers lawyer | The Health Law Firm Blog

South Florida Nursing Home Chain to Pay $17M in Whistleblower Suit

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
A Miami-based nursing home chain has agreed to pay a record $17 million to settle a False Claims Act suit that was brought by its former Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The United States Attorney’s Office claims that Plaza Health Network, formerly known as Hebrew Homes, allegedly doled out illegal payments to physicians for referrals of Medicare patients from 2006 through 2013.

A Sophisticated Kickback Scheme.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Plaza Health Network hired physicians to serve as medical directors, but in reality these were “ghost positions.” These […]

Florida Federal Court Upholds False Claims Act Retaliation Claim Against Northside Hospital and HCA, Inc. Health System

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In a recent decision, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida refused to dismiss a second amended complaint for a False Claims Act (FCA) Retaliation Action. The Florida federal court found that the second amended complaint filed in the case adequately stated protected conduct the former employee engaged in as an effort to prevent and stop further FCA violations by the alleged offending hospital. Therefore, it properly stated a cause of action.

The Facts of the Case.

Brenda Farnsworth, former Vice President of Quality and Risk Management for Northside Hospital, was placed […]