Prosecuting Anti-Kickback Statute Violations

Do you know of doctors receiving hidden benefits for prescribing drugs or recommending services? Please report it.

The federal Anti-Kickback Statute requires physicians to make medical decisions and prescribe medications without consideration of their own financial interests. Most importantly, this law prohibits pharmaceutical companies and other entities from offering financial incentives to doctors for prescribing a specific drug or encouraging the use of a particular medical device. All too often, though, under-the-table agreements between doctors, health care providers, pharmaceutical companies and other health care entities exist. This can lead to medically unnecessary treatment, improper medical recommendations and even criminal violations of the law.

When these violations implicate federal funding, often in the form of Medicare or Medicaid paying for the treatment or prescriptions, it creates a situation where whistleblowers can file a claim and shed light on the misconduct. Those who pursue these claims — also known as qui tam cases — can receive a portion of the funds recovered by the government in any successful action.