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Health Law Highlights

Federal District Court Finds Private-Insurer Relator Can Proceed with False Claims Action

Summary of article from The FCA Insider, by Michael Podberesky, Brett Barnett, Stephen Tagert:

The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey allowed Allstate Insurance Company to proceed with its whistleblower action against Phoenix Toxicology and Lab Services, LLC, alleging the submission of false claims for unnecessary urine drug tests to federal programs. This case highlights a trend of non-traditional whistleblowers, such as private insurers and litigation-funding groups, increasingly bringing False Claims Act actions. The ruling underscores the importance for healthcare providers to be vigilant about potential fraud detection by both insiders and external parties. This decision also illustrates the growing role of the Department of Justice in addressing fraudulent activities related to the opioid epidemic and federal healthcare programs.