Spotlight on False Claims Act: Alere Settlement

Whistleblower to Receive $5.6 Million From False Claims Act Case Last week, the Department of Justice announced that Alere, Inc., a Massachusetts-based medical device manufacturer and its San Diego subsidiary have agreed to pay the United States $33.2 million to resolve allegations that Alere, Inc. violated the False Claims Act. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to…

Spotlight on Healthcare Audit Defense: Medicare ZPIC Audits

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) contract with private companies to routinely target healthcare providers for post-payment reviews and audits. Contractors working for CMS include Zone Program Integrity Contractors (“ZPICs”), Recovery Audit Contractors (“RACs”), and Medicare Administrative Contractors (“MACs”). ZPIC Medicare Audit The ZPIC Medicare audit presents the greatest danger for healthcare providers because ZPICs are especially aggressive in seeking recovery of alleged overpayments. In addition, ZPICs can prompt law enforcement…

Crowder Stewart LLP Sponsors Session of Columbia County Teen Court

Last night, Crowder Stewart LLP sponsored dinner for the March 2018 session of Columbia County Teen Court, a joint venture between Columbia County Community Connections, Columbia County Juvenile Court, Harlem Department of Public Safety, Columbia County Board of Education, Grovetown Department of Public Safety, and Columbia County Sheriff’s Department.  Troy Clark, a partner in the firm, and his wife, Nicole, attended the session to assist the teen participants. Teen Court…