NEW RULE WOULD INCREASE MAXIMUM WHISTLEBLOWER REWARDS TO NEARLY $10 MILLION

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, a law firm dedicated to protecting the interests of whistleblowers, today praised the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for proposing a dramatic increase in compensation for whistleblowers who report Medicare fraud.

DHHS’ proposed rule would dramatically increase the amount of money whistleblowers can receive for reporting Medicare fraud to allow awards as high as $9.9 million.

“Secretary Sebelius’ actions are a big step forward in the department’s campaign to stem Medicare fraud, which by most accounts cost taxpayers billions of dollars a year,” said Steve Berman, Hagens Berman’s managing partner. “This change provides abundant motivation for those who witness fraud to step forward and do the right thing.”

Hagens Berman has extensive experience in representing whistleblowers, including protecting the interests of those bringing Medicare fraud charges under the False Claims Act. The firm has worked with whistleblowers alleging a number of schemes, including outlier payment fraud, improper billing upcoding, illegal kickbacks from providers to physicians, off-label marketing, and billing for services without a written order from a physician. The firm also has extensive experience working with government agencies, including health programs.

Berman urged potential whistleblowers to exercise caution before moving forward with claims.

“We strongly urge potential whistleblowers to speak with an experienced whistleblower attorney before contacting DHHS,” he cautioned. “Whistleblowers who proceed without first speaking with an attorney can lose important rights, and an attorney can evaluate your claim, investigate further and give strategic advice on how to move forward.”

Hagens Berman encourages individuals who believe they have information relating to Medicare fraud to contact the firm for a free consultation by calling (206) 623-7292 or by emailing [email protected].

Learn more information about Hagens Berman’s whistleblower practice »