Paul Werner Quoted in Part B News on DOJ Whistleblower Pilot Program

Buttaci, Leardi & Werner member Paul D. Werner was quoted in an article in Part B News titled “Prepare: New DOJ Pilot Pushes Non-FCA Fraud Reporting, with an Online Form.”

The article, published August 22, discusses a new whistleblower program launched by the Department of Justice to uncover and prosecute corporate crime, including healthcare fraud schemes involving private insurance plans.

Under the program, the DOJ is offering whistleblowers a bounty of up to $50 million for successful cooperation.

While whistleblowers have long been incentivized by big potential payouts to disclose fraud against federal payers, especially Medicare and Medicaid, no such rewards existed for private payers.

Werner told Part B News that he thinks it’ll take a while for cases to come through this pipeline. But “when we do see some uptick in action, it’s not going to be like a slow burn, it’s going be a boom, all of a sudden.”

Werner advised providers who don’t deal with much, if any, federal reimbursement and “aren’t worried about the government knocking at their door” to “recalibrate. Before, these providers felt they wouldn’t have to be as careful because the worst that was going to happen would be, they’d have to write a check to an insurance company. If this takes off, those days are over.” The full article can be read at Part B News (subscription may be required).

• Posted on: Sep 10 2024