HHS Office of Inspector General to Pursue COVID Aid Fraud

By: Lindsay K. Scott

On February 23, 2022, the Chief Counsel to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) presented to the Federal Bar Association’s 2022 virtual qui tam conference that the OIG is actively investigating and pursuing civil monetary penalties for cases of provider fraud relating to the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. The OIG is examining whether health care providers made false certifications to unlawfully claim COVID relief funds and has already settled five cases concerning this activity. The OIG had previously announced that its 2022 Work Plan included auditing of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund payments to health care providers made under Phases 1, 2, and 3 to determine whether payments were: (1) correctly calculated for providers that applied for these payments, (2) supported by appropriate and reasonable documentation, and (3) made to eligible providers.

Lindsay K. Scott

Lindsay K. Scott is a member of Wyatt’s Health Care Service Team. Lindsay concentrates her practice in transactional and regulatory health care law. She advises health care providers on compliance with state and federal licensure and reimbursement matters and fraud, abuse, and privacy requirements, including the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, False Claims Act and HIPAA. Lindsay has significant experience drafting and negotiating complex contracts for clients in the health care industry.  Read More