Durable Medical Equipment Fraud

A settlement has been reached in a whistleblower class action lawsuit brought against Harborside Healthcare and HHC Nutrition Services.  They are accused of receiving kickbacks and assistance under the guise of a sham durable medical equipment (DME) provider.

The whistleblower will receive a $275,000 share of the government's recovery.

Originally filed in October 2008 against McKesson and MediNet, the United States alleged that Harborside Healthcare and HHC Nutrition Services received kickbacks and assistance and, in return, Harborside purchased its DME, such as non-enteral supplies, from McKesson.

A settlement has been reached in a whistleblower class action lawsuit brought against Orbit Medical and Rehab Medical, a partial successor of Orbit.  They are accused of submitted false claims to federal health care programs for power wheelchairs and accessories.

The whistleblower will receive a $1.5 million share of the government's settlement.

The lawsuit alleged that Orbit sales representatives changed or added dates to physician prescriptions and chart notes to falsely document that the prescription was sent to the supplier within 45 days of the face-to-face beneficiary exam; changed the physician prescription to falsely establish medical necessity for the power wheelchair or accessory; created or altered chart notes and other documents to falsely establish the medical necessity of the power wheelchair or accessory; forged physician signatures on prescriptions and chart notes; and added facsimile stamps to supporting documentation to make it appear as though the physician’s office had sent the documents to Orbit.

A settlement has been reached in a whistleblower class action lawsuit brought against Medtronic plc and affiliated Medtronic companies, Medtronic Inc, Medtronic USA Inc, and Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA Inc who are accused of making false statements to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) regarding the country of origin of certain Medtronic products sold to the United States. 

The whistleblowers that intiated this action will receive $749,700 of the recovered funds.

According to the settlement agreement, between 2007 and 2014, Medtronic sold to the VA and DoD products it certified would be made in the United States or other designated countries. Filed in 2012, the lawsuit alleged that Medtronic sold to the United States products manufactured in China and Malaysia, which are prohibited countries under the TAA.