September 6, 2013 — False Claims Act violations involving health care fraud rob the American people of tax dollars that are needed elsewhere. Every year, conscientious employees working inside the health care industry file whistleblower lawsuits that are instrumental in the fight against Medicare and Medicaid fraud. The False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions enable informants to bring suit for the benefit of the government and then retain a share of any judgment or settlement.
Physician Bills Medicare for Unnecessary Cancer Testing and Treatment
Farid Fata, M.D. of Oakland Township, Michigan has been criminally charged for filing fraudulent Medicare claims and prescribing treatments inappropriate for patients’ medical needs.
Dr. Fata was the owner of the Michigan Hematology Oncology Centers (MHOC), with six Michigan offices. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Dr. Fata misdiagnosed patients with cancer in order to perform unnecessary hematology and Positron Emission Tomograph (PET) scans, performed chemotherapy on patients who were diagnosed with a terminal illness and could not benefit from the treatment and fabricated illnesses to justify other testing and administration of drugs. Dr. Fata allegedly risked the health of his patients by performing worthless, or avoidable, tests and other procedures when there was no possibility that the patients would receive a medical benefit.
Over a two year period, alleges the DOJ, MHOC allegedly billed Medicare $25 million for Dr. Fata’s services and another $10 million for MHOC institutional services during the same period.
Cancer Center Insiders Fight Medicaid Fraud With False Claims Act Suits
Cancer center whistleblowers who are considering a collaboration with the government should learn everything they can about the False Claims Act and their interests under the statute. The qui tam lawyers at Waters & Kraus are keenly focused on advancing tipsters’ interests. Contact us by email or call our whistleblower attorneys at 855.784.0268 to discuss our health care fraud practice and how we can safeguard your rights.
