The Department of Justice announced more than $750 million in False Claims Act settlements in the first half of this year, with the bulk of recoveries involving healthcare fraud, according to an analysis by Los Angeles-based law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
The half-year settlement total represents a slight increase from the first half of 2018. However, the $750 million in settlements is down from half-year highs set in recent years, according to the report.
"Although DOJ's recoveries came from cases reflecting a wide variety of theories of FCA liability, cases involving alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law, which generally prohibit various types of remunerative arrangements with referring healthcare providers, continued to predominate," states the report.
Alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute resulted in several large recoveries in the first half of 2019. In one notable settlement, the Justice Department recovered more than $200 million from an opioid manufacturer accused of paying kickbacks, according to the report.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Pennsylvania hospital strikes $2.5M deal in fraudulent billing case
Rennova CEO sues Tennessee lawmaker for $100K over derogatory remarks
Nurses claim Kansas hospital owes them $5M in docked overtime pay