Health agency owner gets decades in prison for role in $57M Medicare fraud scheme

Miami home health agency owner and manager Khaled Elbeblawy was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for his role in a $57 million Medicare fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Elbeblawy was convicted in January. Along with the prison sentence, he was ordered to pay more than $36 million in restitution, or to forfeit the same amount. 

Between 2006 and about May 2013, Elbeblawy defrauded Medicare through false promises, a kickback and bribery scheme, and submitting false and fraudulent documents. The health agencies also billed Medicare for treatment and procedures that were not medically necessary, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. read more »

Get ready for more whistle-blowers in the financial advice sector

The SEC and states like Indiana believe company insiders can provide better insights on fraud and wrongdoing than aggrieved investors can

As federal and state securities regulators rely more on firm insiders to uncover wrongdoing, the investment advice sector may find itself more vulnerable to whistle-blowing. read more »

Progenics Pharmaceuticals whistleblower wins another $3 million

A former Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc chemist who last year won a $1.66 million verdict from a biotechnology company accused of retaliating against him for whistleblower claims was awarded at least $3.3 million more on Tuesday. read more »

CFTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Whistleblower Rule Amendments

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is requesting public comment on proposed amendments to the Whistleblower Rules found in Part 165 of the CFTC’s Regulations. The amendments would enhance the process for reviewing whistleblower claims and make related changes to clarify staff authority to administer the whistleblower program. The proposal will also strengthen the CFTC’s anti-retaliation authority to provide whistleblowers protection from retaliation through CFTC enforcement action under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). 

The amendments make changes to other key areas such as: eligibility requirements; award claims review; contents of record for award determinations; whistleblower identifying information; and improper employer confidentiality provisions. read more »

Retired doctor, company to pay $1M to settle claims of false Medicare billing

A retired Mercer County audiologist and a healthcare company he operated in five states have agreed to pay nearly $1 million to settle claims that they billed Medicare for services in nursing homes that were not necessary and not supported by patient records.

The U.S. attorney's office said today that Dr. John Balko and Senior Healthcare Associates, based in Hermitage, violated the False Claims Act from 2006 to May 2015 and agreed to pay $930,000. read more »