After a ten week trial, a federal court in Alabama has granted a hospice care provider, Aseracare Inc.’s motion for a new trial in a False Claims Act (FCA) case. The Government alleged that this hospice care provider knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare for patients who were not terminally ill and thus did not qualify for hospice benefits. However, the Alabama federal court determined that there was reversible error in the jury instructions that left out that the FCA requires proof of an objective falsehood and that a minor difference in opinion is not enough to show falsity. At this time, the court is considering summary judgment given that the government maintains its only evidence for proving falsity is expert testimony and medical records of the patients at issue.
Robert S. Iwrey, Esq., a founding partner of The Health Law Partners, P.C., practices in all areas of healthcare law and devotes a substantial portion of his practice assisting clients in government investigations including the defense of qui tam actions, third party payor audits, DEA registrations, state licensing, pharmacy legal matters, and compliance. For more information regarding this article, please contact Robert S. Iwrey, Esq. at (248) 996-8510 or (212) 734-0128 or riwrey@thehlp.com.
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