HHS Whistleblower Rewards Attorney
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) works to improve and protect health and safety for patients while maintaining public trust in the healthcare industry. To carry out its mission, the HHS does business with innumerable financial institutions, companies, and individuals. Most of these are ethical in dealing with the federal government and work to avoid fraud and waste. But a certain few engage in various forms of misconduct.
Because HHS has limited resources, it relies heavily on whistleblowers who report fraud. HHS employees, private-sector employees, and others with information about fraud and waste may benefit from exposing these activities. It starts with retaining a law firm that understands federal whistleblower laws and securities law violations and seeks the maximum reward available. That law firm is Oberheiden P.C.
Examples of HHS Fraud and Abuse
Illegal and unethical activities involving the False Claims Act and HHS come in many forms. Some of the most common types of healthcare fraud that whistleblowers expose involve:
Contract fraud
HHS is the fourth largest contracting entity in the federal government, which unfortunately makes it a target for individuals and businesses seeking to commit fraud. Not only does this activity cheat taxpayers, but it also deprives legitimate contractors of doing business with HHS. Examples of whistleblower-reported contract fraud include:
- Falsifying information and submitting fraudulent documents in contract proposals
- Billing more than one contract for services rendered or goods provided
- Billing for services that were never rendered or goods that were never supplied
- Using federal funds to purchase items that are not approved by the government
- Misrepresenting the status of a contract project to continue receiving HHS funds
- Charging higher rates than those that were promised or agreed to in the bid or contract
- Conflicts of interest, such as attempting to influence government employees to award a grant or contract to a family member, friend, or specific company
- Bribes, kickbacks, and gratuities involving HHS contracts or government business
Grant fraud
HHS ranks as the largest grant making agency of the U.S. government. Through 12 different Operating Divisions, HHS issues grants directly to states, territories, tribes, and educational and community organizations. Grant funds must be used for their intended purposes, and those awarded grants must justify their costs and expenditures. Grant fraud may include:
- Theft, embezzlement, or misuse of grant funds
- Falsifying information in grant applications
- Falsifying information in progress reports or other submissions to the government
- Falsifying data or results, including research data
- Falsifying time and effort records and other documents
- Billing for work that was never performed
- Billing for costs that were not incurred as part of the grant award
Medicare and Medicaid fraud
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Teams, DOJ’s criminal division, and the Office of the Inspector General operate in several regions throughout the country to cut down on the waste and fraud that plague this federal program. On the other hand, each state uses Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) to investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and abuse or neglect of residents in facilities that Medicaid funds. Together, these groups work not only to stop the abuse and waste of taxpayer money but to ensure that patients are treated properly in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare establishments.
Conduct that threatens public health and safety
This broad category includes anything that undermines the integrity of the healthcare system. Patients and their families rely on the services that hospitals and healthcare professionals deliver, but they need to be sure that these businesses and individuals act ethically. Bribery, kickbacks, substandard practices, and other misconduct undermine public trust in the health industry and could potentially lead to significant harm.
Another example of such activities is the censorship of scientific research or analysis. Medicine cannot advance without the critical support that scientists provide, but their data must be reliable. When censorship is allowed to interfere with genuine research, public health and safety are compromised.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Founder
Attorney-at-Law
Lynette S. Byrd
Former DOJ Trial Attorney
Partner
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Hon. Kevin McCarthy
55th Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives (ret.)
Government Consultant
Mike Pompeo
Of Counsel
Former U.S. Secretary of State
John W. Sellers
Former Senior DOJ Trial Attorney
Linda Julin McNamara
Federal Appeals Attorney
Nicholas B. Johnson
Former Prosecutor
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (DOJ)
Chris J. Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Michael S. Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
How Do I Become A Whistleblower?
There are ways to report wrongdoing both internally as an HHS employee and through external means. However, if you have information about misconduct, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney before reporting it. Doing so can protect you against unlawful retaliation and help you potentially secure a whistleblower reward for exposing illegal and unethical conduct.
Whistleblowers should have original information about the above or other types of abuse. “Original” generally means that the information is not already public or known to the government. The whistleblower’s report may open a new investigation or facilitate an already existing one. Either way, the government typically rewards those who step forward first, so you should contact our office immediately if you have evidence of fraud or other impropriety.
If government agencies are able to recover funds that were stolen or otherwise acquired improperly, the whistleblower may have the right to request a reward. Rewards can range anywhere from 15% to 30% of the net proceeds recovered.
How Our Firm Helps HHS Whistleblowers
Our whistleblower lawyers have extensive experience uncovering all manner of HHS fraud, waste, and abuse. When you retain us, we get to work by:
- Reviewing the information you have to ensure it will qualify as original
- Determining which government whistleblower program is best suited to the evidence you have
- Submitting the necessary paperwork and evidence to the proper authorities
- Managing all communications with HHS and other government attorneys and investigators
- Ensuring that you remain responsive to government requests for additional information and cooperation
- Helping you take advantage of existing whistleblower programs from illegal retaliation
- Protecting your privacy and maintaining your confidentiality as a whistleblower
- Negotiating for the maximum whistleblower reward by demonstrating to the government how useful your information is to its enforcement actions
Contact Our HHS Whistleblower Rewards Attorney
At Oberheiden P.C., we understand the important role that whistleblowers play in keeping patients safe and healthy and ensuring that HHS contractors do not misuse the taxpayer funds they receive. To become an HHS whistleblower and seek a reward for doing so, contact or call us today.
