WASHINGTON, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The Corporate Whistleblower Center is urging healthcare managers at long-term care facilities, hospitals, or large medical practice groups to call them at 866-714-6466 if they possess significant proof the company is accepting bribes, rebates or any kind of kickback from a pharmaceutical company or pharmacy. The Center believes these issues are a growing problem and that the reward potential for these types of whistleblowers is significant. http://CorporateWhistleblowerCenter.Com
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The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "We are very interested in talking to healthcare managers or medical doctors who have well-documented proof of pharmaceutical companies that are engaged in paying off doctors to prescribe more of their products, paying off healthcare facilities to use specific types of drugs or medical products, and off-labeling, which involves prescribing drugs that have not yet been approved by the FDA, and so on.
"If you possess solid proof of these types of activities, we urge you to call us at 866-714-6466, so that we can carefully explain to you how whistleblower programs work, and the level of proof that is needed to get rewarded. There has never been a better time in US history to be a whistleblower, namely for physicians, healthcare professionals and doctors who have direct evidence of drug companies paying people off." http://CorporateWhistleblowerCenter.Com
A recent example from a Justice Department press release in February of 2014 illustrates that Omnicare Inc., an Ohio-based long-term care pharmacy, agreed to pay the government $4.19 million to settle allegations that it engaged in a kickback scheme in violation of the False Claims Act. Omnicare provides pharmaceuticals and services to long-term care facilities and residents, as well as other senior populations.
The settlement resolves allegations that Omnicare solicited and received kickbacks from the drug manufacturer Amgen Inc. in return for implementing "therapeutic interchange" programs that were designed to switch Medicaid beneficiaries from a competitor drug to Amgen's product, Aranesp. The government alleged that the kickbacks took the form of performance-based rebates that were tied to market-share or volume thresholds, as well as grants, speaker fees, consulting services, data fees, dinners and travel.
In this case, the whistleblower received a settlement of $397,925.
Simple rules for a whistleblower from the Corporate Whistleblower Center:
- Do not go to the government first, if you are a major whistleblower. The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "Major whistleblowers frequently go to the federal government thinking they will help. It's a huge mistake. Frequently government officials could care less, or they are incompetent."
- Do not go to the news media with your whistleblower information. Public revelation of a whistleblower's information could destroy any prospect for a reward.
- Do not try to force a government contractor, or corporation to come clean to the government about their wrongdoing. The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "Fraud is so rampant among federal contractors, that any suggestion of exposure might result in an instant job termination, or harassment of the whistleblower. We say, come to us first, tell us what type of information you have, and if we think its sufficient, we will help find the right law firms, to assist in advancing your information."
The Corporate Whistleblower Center wants to emphasize there are high quality whistleblowers in every state, including: California, New York, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
Any type of insider or employee, who possesses significant proof of their employer or a government contractor fleecing the federal government is encouraged to contact to Corporate Whistleblower Center anytime at 866-714-6466, or they can contact the group via their web site at: http://CorporateWhistleBlowerCenter.Com.
For attribution purposes, please refer to the February 2014 Justice Department press release: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2014/February/14-civ-216.html.
The False Claims Act lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina and is captioned United States ex rel. Kurnik v. Amgen Inc., et al.
Media Contact:
M. Thomas Martin
866-714-6466