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How to Make $4.1Billion in 12 Months: Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Enforcement Mark Bartlett Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP
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Why Is This Man Smiling? 2
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Health Care Fraud Enforcement: Top DOJ Priority Government recovered almost $4.1 billion in health care fraud actions during FY11, up 58% percent from 2009 More than 700 criminal convictions "This is an unprecedented achievement -- and it represents the highest amount ever recovered in a single year," said Attorney General Eric Holder 3
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Health Care Fraud Enforcement: Top DOJ Priority December 19, 2011 DOJ Press Release – Over $3 billion in FCA civil settlements and judgments in Fiscal Year 2011 2 nd consecutive year over $3 billion $270 million HCF investigation funding increase FY12 $2.4 billion recovered from fraud involving federal health care programs – Over $6.6 billion recovered under FCA since January 2009
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FCA: Settlements/Judgments $$ in millions Source: DOJ “Fraud Statistics – Overview” (Dec. 7, 2011) Settlements or Judgments in Cases Where Government Declines Intervention As Percentage of Total FCE Recoveries
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Health Care Fraud Statutes False Claims Act (Civil) – Imposes liability on any person who knowingly submits, or causes to be submitted, a false or fraudulent claim to the Federal Government Anti-Kickback Statute (Criminal) – Prohibits knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving any remuneration to induce or reward referrals of items or services reimbursable by a Federal health care program 6
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Health Care Fraud Statutes Stark Law (Civil) – Prohibits a physician from making a referral to an entity in which the physician has an ownership interest or compensation arrangement Health Care Fraud (Criminal) – Prohibits knowingly and willfully executing a scheme or artifice to defraud any health care benefit program 7
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PPACA Anti-Fraud Provisions Anti-Kickback Statute – Codifies lower scienter – Violation constitutes “false claim” under FCA False Claims Act – Narrows definition of “public disclosure” Overpayments – Providers must report and return any overpayment within 60 days Increase provider exposure to administrative, civil and criminal liability
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2011 Health Care Fraud Criminal Enforcement September 7, 2011 – DOJ charges 91 individuals with Medicare fraud- related offenses, including fraudulent billings over $295 million, the largest single takedown in Strike Force history September 16, 2011 – Lawrence Duran, the owner of a mental health care company, American Therapeutic Corporation, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for orchestrating a $205 million Medicare fraud scheme
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Moving Beyond CIA’s Expansion of the Park Doctrine Inspector General Levinson – excluding corporate officers influences corporate behavior without impacting patient access to care – 883 individuals and entities excluded 10/10 to 03/11 Purdue Frederick Oxycontin prosecution – $600 million criminal fines and civil sanctions – Corporate executive misdemeanor pleas 4 months later, 20 year exclusion (reduced to 12) New Goal: Exclusion even where no guilty plea
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A Brave New World: Fraud Detection in 2012 CMS use of predictive modeling and algorithms Electronic billing Stop pay first and ask questions later
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CMS Benefit Integrity Contractors Recovery Audit Contractors – Tasked with identifying and collecting improper Medicare payments, paid on contingency basis Comprehensive Error Rate Testing – Analyze error rate data and develop plans to reduce improper payments 12
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Responding to Subpoenas Grand Jury Subpoenas – Used in criminal cases only – Determine if you are target or simply third party Parallel Proceedings – Administrative Investigative Demands – Get as much information as possible as quickly as possible HHS OIG Subpoenas
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Execution of a Search Warrant Always be polite and cooperative, but never consent to expanded search or voluntary interviews – Inform agents that they are not to speak to anyone Gain as much information as possible – Ask the purpose of the visit – Names and titles of all agents – Copy of search warrant (mandatory) and affidavit (discretionary) – Monitor all items that are removed
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We Are All Boy Scouts “ BE PREPARED ” Designate a single contact person to meet with all government visitors – In-house attorney, head of security, human resources Have at least one back-up point person Ensures company speaks with one voice and permits company to control documents
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Never Talk to Strangers EDUCATE ALL EMPLOYEES – Employees have the right to talk or not talk to investigators – Employees have the right to talk with counsel before deciding whether to consent to a voluntary interview – Employees have the right to have counsel present during any interviews Remember: it is the employee’s decision, not the company’s decision, whether to consent to be interviewed
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The Best Defense A robust, real Corporate Compliance Program can solve many problems Mandatory ethics training Commitment from the top Effective response to problems
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Contact Mark Bartlett Partner Davis Wright Tremaine LLP markbartlett@dwt.com 206.757.8298 direct 206.794.0705 mobile
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