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Whistle Blower / Qui Tam Lawyers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This is an alert for health care company employees that know there are submissions of fraudulent billing to government programs. A Qui Tam case can provide you with compensation for being the whistle blower against a fraudulent company, as well as serve the public by stopping fraud. Qui Tam cases are often brought against employers like:
- Nursing Homes
- Doctors Offices
- Hospitals
- Ambulance companies
- Medical Practices
- Medical Labs
Since 1986 the government has recovered over $2 billion as a result of these suits. Through these recoveries, the whistle blowers involved in the Qui Tam cases have received almost $340 million in awards.
So – If you have information in your workplace or through a colleague that you believe demonstrates that a fraud is or has been perpetrated. And the information of fraud is not of common or publicized knowledge -- qui tam law suits cannot be maintained if the information is already in the marketplace or already the subject of litigation.
OK – so what do you do?
Call Norman Perlberger, Esquire or Eliot H. Lewis, Esquire (215-569-8866) to lead you through the complexities of your legal fight to right that wrong!
One of the reasons whistle blower cases are brought against these types of employers is because they receive reimbursement from the government for bills. Government programs like Medicare and Medicaid provide this compensation.
At the moment, it is estimated that fraudulent charges comprise up to 10% of all charges billed to Medicare. Some of the most common types of fraud include:
- Obtaining Medicare or Medicaid numbers in return for free services or products
- Multiple billing for performing only one service
- Charging for treatments that were never done
- Billing for equipment that is much more expensive than the equipment bought
- Submitting Certificates of Medical Necessity that have not been completed by the physician
- A pattern of waiving patients’ co-payments
The Qui Tam statute (Civil False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq) is a law that enables a person to bring a lawsuit against another party that is knowingly defrauding the United States government. Also referred to as a whistle blower claim, Qui Tam is an abbreviation for a Latin phrase that means "Who sues on behalf of the King as well as for himself."
Qui Tam, or whistle blower, laws were developed as a way to stop companies and employers from committing fraud. By allowing any individual to file a Qui Tam case on behalf of the government, fraud committed by employers is drastically minimized. As incentive for bringing a Qui Tam case, the government can provide the whistle blower with an award for holding their employer responsible.
In 1986, the Qui Tam law was revised. The revisions made it easier for individuals to file Qui Tam claims for fraudulent practices. Since then, there have been over 2,400 filed Qui Tam cases. The whistle blower involved in the Qui Tam lawsuit is entitled to 15 to 30% of the total amount of compensation recovered by the government. However, in order to qualify for the award from the government, the whistle blower must follow a number of difficult statutes concerning the Qui Tam lawsuit.
A Qui Tam lawsuit can be incredibly difficult. Not only are there numerous statutes that the whistle blower must follow, but there are also in-depth investigations, interviews, and witness testimonies.
Having a good Qui Tam attorney is critical in a whistle blower lawsuit. A whistle blower attorney will perform the initial investigations, as well as provide aid in completing the necessary legal forms and documents.
Prior to the Qui Tam case going to trial, the whistle blower will have to submit a release of all knowledge of the fraudulent activity they witnessed or have knowledge of. Also, the whistle blower and the whistle blower attorney will submit a legal complaint to the courts, informing them of why a Qui Tam case is being filed.
During the Qui Tam case, the whistle blower must show that they had knowledge of the other party performing fraud, including:
- Presenting or causing to present fraudulent or false claims to an employee or officer of the government.
- Creating, using, or causing to be used a false record or statement in order to receive a false payment from the government.
- Conspiring to receive a false claim or payment by defrauding the government.
After the legal complaint has been filed with the courts, the government will have the option of intervening in the case, dismissing the case, or settling the case. No matter what the decision made, the whistle blower involved in the case will be entitled to their share of the total amount recovered by the government as a result of their Qui Tam case.
If you believe you have a Qui Tam or whistle blower lawsuit, Contact Norman Perlberger, Esquire or Eliot H. Lewis, Esquire (215-569-8866) to lead you through the complexities of your legal fight to right that wrong! We will help you determine if you have a whistle blower lawsuit.
Contact the Philadelphia Whistle Blower attorneys at Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis today to put over 100 years of combined experience on your side.
Call or email us today for your personal consultation.
