Emory Settles Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Claims For $1.5M

Emory University has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle allegations that the university violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare and Medicaid for clinical trial services that were not permitted by the Medicare and Medicaid rules, the U.S. Department of Justice announced last month.

Providers generally are not permitted to bill Medicare for medical care and services for which the clinical trial sponsor has agreed to pay.  The United States and the State of Georgia alleged that Emory University billed Medicare and Medicaid for services the clinical trial sponsor agreed to pay (and, in some cases, actually did pay, thereby resulting in Emory’s being paid twice for the same service).

The lawsuit was originally filed by Elizabeth Eliot, a former Emory employee, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.  The False Claims Act allows private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to sue on behalf of the government and share in the recovery.  Eliot’s share of the settlement has not yet been determined.

The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments.  We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who expose every kind of fraud against the government, including health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud.  Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.