DaVita Healthcare Partners to Pay $350 Million to U.S. Government for Allegedly Violating the Anti-Kickback Statue under the False Claims Act | The National Law Review

On October 22, 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc. (DaVita), a provider of dialysis services, has agreed to pay the U.S. Government $350 million for allegedly violating several provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA) — including persuading physicians or physician groups to refer their dialysis patients to DaVita by offering kickbacks for each patient referred. The lawsuit also claims that the alleged illegal practices administered by DaVita were part of a calculated scheme involving thorough research by DaVita which identified and targeted physicians, mostly young and in debt, and who were more likely to be open to kickback incentives.  This lawsuit was initially filed under the qui tam whistleblowers provision of the FCA by David Barbetta, who was previously employed by DaVita as a Senior Financial Analyst.  Mr. Barbetta will receive a reward that has yet to be determined, although whistleblower rewards under the FCA generally fall within the range of 15% to 30% of the amount recovered by the Government.

via DaVita Healthcare Partners to Pay $350 Million to U.S. Government for Allegedly Violating the Anti-Kickback Statue under the False Claims Act | The National Law Review.

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