January 22, 2014 — The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) relies on health care industry insiders to help recoup the millions of dollars Medicare spends each year due to false claims for services never provided. The qui tam provisions in the False Claims Act give whistleblowers a powerful weapon for combating Medicare fraud. Tipsters who file a claim for the government’s benefit may keep a portion of the proceeds in the event that the government makes a recovery.
Florida Health Care Clinic Owner Ordered to Pay Almost $7 Million in Restitution for Defrauding Medicare
Dora Moreira, who owned a Florida home health care business, has been sentenced to prison for her role in a $7 million health care fraud scheme. In addition, Moreira has been ordered to pay $6,928,931 in restitution, the DOJ has announced.
Moreira was the owner and operator of the now defunct Anna Nursing Services Corp, a home health care agency in Miami that purported to provide physical therapy and home health services to patients on Medicare. At trial, the evidence revealed that Anna Nursing was little more than a front for filing false claims with Medicare for services that were not necessary, not rendered, or both.
Between 2010 and May 2013, Anna Nursing received $7 million from Medicare in reimbursement for fraudulent claims. Moreira paid bribes and kickbacks to patients, negotiated with patient recruiters who helped drum up business for the scam, and coordinated the filing of false claims to the Medicare program. In addition, Moreira laundered the money she was paid by Medicare in an effort to conceal her fraudulent operations and make the required kickbacks to patients and recruiters.
Health Care Insiders Play Central Role in Fighting Medicare Fraud
False Claims Act violations involving fraudulent Medicare claims for medically unnecessary treatment are frequently revealed by health care insiders. Whistleblowers interested in collaborating with the government need to understand the process. With qui tam lawyers in three offices from coast to coast, Waters & Kraus focuses on protecting the rights of informants. Contact us or phone our False Claims Act attorneys at 855.784.0268 to learn more about our health care fraud practice.
