Healthcare Risk Management Quotes Paul Werner on DOJ’s Target on Healthcare for FCA Enforcement
Buttaci, Leardi & Werner member Paul Werner was quoted in an article in Healthcare Risk Management titled “DOJ Targeting Healthcare for False Claims Act Enforcement.” The article, published in the August 2025 issue, discusses how federal regulators and law enforcement are focusing on healthcare organizations for False Claims Act (FCA) violations more than other industries.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) reported $2.9 billion in FCA settlements and judgments in 2024, and more than $1.67 billion involved the healthcare industry.
Werner tells Healthcare Risk Management that the DOJ is continuing to conduct significant investigations into clinical laboratories and durable medical equipment providers—sectors he says will always be at the top of the list because of their reimbursement levels.
He adds that specialty practices are now also being targeted closely.
“You’re not often going to see a general practitioner’s office, or even a big group of general practitioners’ office getting roped into a False Claims Act case. They just tend not to hit on the radar,” Werner says. “But we certainly see them in specialties. Pain management, dermatology, ophthalmology, hospice, those are all areas where we see a lot of ongoing investigations.”
The article states that healthcare leaders should take a hard look at their compliance programs to ensure they are doing all they can to avoid FCA enforcement actions.
The full article can be read at Healthcare Risk Management.
- Posted on: Aug 8 2025