Health Care Providers, United States Settle on Illegal Medicare Reimbursements

SECTION: Vol. 8 No. 10

Two former employees sued an Atlanta hospital and a transplant group who they claimed fraudulently billed Medicare for blood products and improper referrals. The United States intervened. The hospital and blood center denied wrongdoing and all of the allegations. Settlement: $6.37 million. The hospital will pay $5.72 million and the blood center will pay $650,000. The two whistleblowers will receive $1.2 million.

Plaintiff Attorneys: Mina Rhee, assistant U.S. attorney, Atlanta, Tyrone M. Bridges, Marlan B. Wilbanks, Harmon, Smith, Bridges & Wilbanks, Atlanta.

Defense Attorneys: Ralph J. Caccia, Powell Goldstein LLP, Washington, William H. Jordan, Alston & Bird LLP, Atlanta. United States of America ex rel. Burns v. Northside Hospital, et al., No. 1:04-cv-00501-JOF (N.D. Ga. 10/23/06).