Claire Beniga, Author at Keller Grover

$60M settlement underscores need for Medicare whistleblowers

A CVS subsidiary recently struck a $60 million settlement to resolve kickback allegations, the latest settlement highlighting financial threats to Medicare programs. Oak Street Health allegedly paid third-party insurance agents to recruit to its primary care clinics seniors who were either eligible for or enrolled in Medicare Advantage, regardless of the best interests of the seniors, in violation of the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute, according to a release. Some Medicare … [Read more...]

Wingstop owner will pay $1.7M over wage theft after tip leads to settlement

Wingstop employees who suffered from wage theft will benefit from a $1.7 million settlement — yet more proof that employees who stand up against wrongdoing can be made whole. The California Labor Commission announced the settlement, which pays affected workers $5 for every $1 originally due to them. The case affects about 550 employees of a Wingstop franchisee who owns five locations in Bakersfield. It all started with a tip from one of the chicken restaurants. Ultimately, investigators … [Read more...]

Prescription drug price fraud persists; whistleblowers help root it out

The federal government has been working to make pricey prescription drugs more affordable for the roughly 54.1 million people who are enrolled in the Medicare prescription program, known as Part D. However, fraud threatens to cost both the government and individuals suffering from health conditions significant amounts of money. Whistleblowers — working people who witness wrongdoing and courageously report it — can play a key role in protecting both. The government has been pursuing drug … [Read more...]

Cybersecurity Breaches Are Costly. Whistleblowers Can Be Crucial in Preventing Them

Protecting taxpayer money is one of the most important purposes of the False Claims Act. A false claim against the federal government is sometimes clear to see from a whistleblower’s standpoint, such as when unrendered services are billed to Medicare. But cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important vulnerability for the federal government and the watchful eyes of whistleblowers who understand the complexities of information technology are needed more than ever. This year, a botched … [Read more...]

California healthcare raises: Who gets them, and when?

Delayed raises for certain California healthcare workers finally have a start date: Oct. 16. Some of the state’s lowest-paid healthcare workers were supposed to see bumps in their paychecks starting in summer and stair-stepping up over time to $25 an hour, according to a bill passed late last year (SB 525). But a multibillion-dollar budget deficit led California politicians to delay the increases. Some healthcare facilities reportedly already boosted pay, sometimes prompted by labor … [Read more...]