Huge qui tam settlement where the qui tam plaintiffs will recover $13.9 million. The underlying action involves allegations that the Heart Hospital violated the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute by requiring physician owners to satisfy the Heart Hospital’s yearly 48 patient-contact requirement in order to maintain ownership in the hospital.
This settlement arises from a lawsuit filed by former Heart Hospital physician owners Mitchell Magee, M.D. and Todd Dewey, M.D. pursuant to the whistleblower or qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds.
Dr. Dewey and Dr. Magee will collectively receive $13,920,000 as their share of the recovery.