Big Apple Settles False Claims for $70 million
- November 07, 2011 by Qui Tam
- Healthcare, State False Claims Acts
New York City has agreed to pay the federal government $70 million to settle claims that it allegedly overbilled Medicaid by improperly approving home care for elderly clients. As part of the settlement, NYC admitted that it reauthorized treatment of a number of patients without having first obtained required assessments from doctors, nurses and social workers. The allegations came to light as the result of a whistleblower, Dr. Gabriel Feldman, who was an independent medical reviewer under contract with NYC. Dr. Feldman filed a lawsuit under the False Claims Act and stands to recover $14.7 million of the settlement.