Double-billing Settlement Highlights Whistleblower Concerns
Media Health Leaders
June 12, 2009
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey paid over $7 million to settle a qui tam lawsuit alleging that it bilked Medicaid in a long-running double-billing scheme. However, if it had followed the government’s self-disclosure process, it could have saved millions. “It’s a bet,” said Nolan Auerbach managing partner Marcella Auerbach. “They are betting on the fact they won’t get caught.” When concerns were initially raised by the physician-whistleblower, the University turned a deaf ear to his concerns and fired him. “These people are fired for bringing points up,” Ms. Auerbach said, “Then they come to us and they have two claims.”