A Connecticut whistleblower is set to receive $102,000 in a qui tam suit filed under the False Claims Act against a medical products supplier.
J & L Medical Services LLC agreed to pay the State of Connecticut $600,000 to settle claims its preventative services for patients with sleep apnea were performed by unlicensed staffers.
According to the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, it was a whistleblower who alerted federal investigators. Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers are entitled to receive a percentage of the proceeds of any judgment or settlement recovered by the government.
J & L Medical Services LLC is a medical products company located in Middlebury, Connecticut which provides machines and accessories used to treat Medicare and Medicaid sufferers with obstructive sleep apnea.
But, according to federal and state investigators, from Jan. 1, 2008 through May 15, 2013, J & L used unlicensed respiratory therapy technicians to provide its services, including fitting patients with masks used with the machines and educating patients how to use them. It is a violation of state law to use unlicensed personnel to provide such services, authorities said.
The qui tam complaint
A complaint against J&L was filed in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of both the federal and state False Claims Acts.
“Health care providers must utilize properly licensed individuals to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients, and the failure to do will have serious consequences,” stated U.S. Attorney Daly. “The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to vigorously pursuing health care providers who submit false or fraudulent claims to federal health care programs.”
The whistleblower, John Hart, who is a former employee of J&L and a licensed respiratory therapist, will receive a share of the proceeds of the settlement in the amount of $102,000.
J&L also agreed to implement a Compliance Program intended to prevent and/or detect fraud, waste, and abuse in claims submitted by the company to the Connecticut Medicaid program, as part of the settlement. Because this is a settlement, there is no determination of guilt or innocence related to the allegations.
Health care fraud costs taxpayers millions each year. If you suspect health care fraud contact the Utah Whistleblower Hotline by calling 801-386-6621 any time.