Hospital Fraud

Columbia University UPDATE: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has, in effect, ordered a trial to determine if the remaining defendant in the Romano case, New York Presbyterian Hospital, is also liable for False Claims Act violations. In April 2006, The Hon. Louis L. Stanton dismissed the hospital’s motion for Summary Judgment which clears the way for a trial to determine if the hospital is liable for as many as 2,000 False Claims Act violations per year over a more-than-five-year period. Under federal law a fine of up to $11,000 per count, along with up to three times actual damages could be assessed.

Columbia University Pays More Than $5 Million To U.S.; Whistleblower Case Alleged That Medical School Obstetricians Defrauded Medicaid Over Midwife-Handled Deliveries
NEW YORK CITY – Columbia University obstetricians defrauded Medicaid for more than a decade by falsely taking credit for deliveries routinely handled by certified nurse midwives at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital’s Allen Pavilion, according to court documents unsealed today after the university agreed to pay more than $5 million to the U.S. to settle the allegations.

"Tim McInnis is an amazing attorney. He is intelligent, thorough, ethical, kind and he works very strategically in order to insure the best outcome for his clients. I would trust him with my life. He is not only an excellent attorney, but he is a compassionate person."
Denise A. Romano, January 2004

"Tim McInnis is a superb lawyer for whistleblowers. As both a relator and a lawyer I worked with for more than three and a

On October 14, 2020, medical device maker Merit Medical Systems Inc. (MMSI), of South Jordan, Utah, agreed to pay $18 million to settle allegations the company helped submit false claims to the federal Medicare and TRICARE programs and numerous state Medicaid programs by giving kickbacks to physicians and hospitals to induce the purchase and use of MMSI’s durable medical equipment devices and products. NYC attorney Timothy J. McInnis was a member of the legal team that successfully represented the whistleblower in the case, Charles J. (“CJ”) Wolf, M.D., who was the former Chief Compliance Officer of MMSI.

According to Dr. Wolf’s complaint and the government’s settlement agreement, for over six years MMSI paid kickbacks to physicians, medical practices, and hospitals. The payments were made indirectly under the guise of free advertising assistance, practice development, practice support, and so-called “educational” grants. All of this was intended to induce the healthcare providers to purchase and use MMSI’s products, including EmboSphere devices, which are used for uterine fibroid embolization procedures, and QuadraSphere devices, which are used for other types of embolization procedures. Among other things, MMSI used local advertising campaigns to steer patients to healthcare providers as a reward for past sales and to increase future purchases of MMSI products. Dr. Wolf and the government further alleged that MMSI disregarded numerous internal warnings, including from Dr. Wolf, that MMSI’s sales practices potentially violated the healthcare Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS).

The lawsuit was filed in the federal court in District of New Jersey, where attorney McInnis formerly served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Wolf v. Merit Medical Systems, Inc., No. 2:16-cv-01855-CCC-MF (D.N.J.). Of the $18 million MMSI is paying to settle the case, $15.21 million will be go to the U.S. Treasury, and the remaining $2.79 million will go to the approximately 30 individual states that also joined the lawsuit.

half years and his counsel and perseverance were always spot on. His work was critical to a successful settlement of the case."
Stephen B. Diamond, Esq., August, 2016

"Tim McInnis Law represented my case with the up most professionalism. He communicated with me at every turn of the case ensuring I understood the process as well what was to come next. His patience, comprehension of Qui Tam Law and persistence in getting me the highest amount possible out of the case is unmatched. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend his law firm for a minute."
Don A. Briscoe, September 2016

Hospital Fraud

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