San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/18/2018 -- The Whistleblower Institute announces that EmCare Inc and Physician's Alliance Ltd reached a $33 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit over receiving illegal inducements to refer patients to a hospital operator's facilities.

Those who have a similar case or experienced a similar situation or any other wrongdoing within a corporation have certain options and should contact the Whistleblower Institute at mail@whistleblowerinstitute.com or call: 619-452–1218. There are no costs or obligations to you.

A settlement has been reached to resolve False Claims Act allegations against EmCare Inc and Physician's Alliance Ltd.

The allegations arose from a lawsuit that claimed EmCare Inc and Physician's Alliance Ltd (PAL) received illegal remuneration in exchange for patient referrals to hospitals owned by the now-defunct Health Management Associates (HMA).

According to the government, allegedly from 2008 to 2012, HMA made bonus payments to EmCare doctors and tied EmCare's contracts for staffing its hospitals to increasing admissions to HMA facilities of patients covered by Medicare. Under the settlement, EmCare will pay $29.6 million to resolve allegations.

Also, according to the government, allegedly Physicians' Alliance and three of its executives from 2009 to 2012 also accepted payments in return for referring patients to two HMA hospitals. Under the settlement, PAL and its executives will pay $4 million plus a percentage of proceeds from the sale of PAL's interest in a joint venture with HMA.

"These settlements demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that physician judgment is not compromised by illegal inducements," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Division, Chad A. Readler. "Patient care decisions should be based on the needs of patients rather than the financial interests of physicians."

The whistleblowers, Dr. Thomas Mason and Dr. Stephen Folstad, whose medical practice previously supplied doctors to staff HMA hospital emergency departments, will receive $6.2 million under the EmCare settlement.

In a separate action, former HMA hospital executives, George E. Miller and Michael J. Metts, filed suit alleging the scheme between PAL and HMA. Their share of the settlement has not yet been determined.

Based in Dallas, Texas, EmCare Inc provides physician practice management services for emergency departments, inpatient physician services or hospitals, acute care surgery, trauma and general surgery, women's and children's services, radiology / teleradiology programs and anesthesiology services.

Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Physician's Alliance Ltd specializes in Health Care for People.

The Whistleblower Institute is an information portal for current or former employees and other people having insight information about wrongdoing and other illegal activities by individuals either individually or within corporations, through company culture and or within international affairs. Whistleblowers should keep in mind that under the Dodd-Frank Act any person who provides the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") with original information that leads to a successful enforcement action with over $1 million recovered must be awarded between 10%-30% of the total amount recovered. In order to determine the total amount of the reward there are numerous factors that need to be considered. Whistleblower actions are complex and our goal is to guide any whistleblower every step of the way. The Whistleblower Institute is dedicated to partnering with any individual who have information about fraud and we work with many of the best law firms worldwide.

Those who have a similar case or experienced a similar situation or any other wrongdoing within a corporation have certain options and should contact the Whistleblower Institute.

Contact:
Whistleblower Institute
2534 State Street - Suite 406
San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Phone: +1 (619) 452–1218
Facsimile: +1 (619) 785 – 3185
Email: mail@whistleblowerinstitute.com

The material was prepared by the Whistleblower Institute for informational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. The information is provided only as general information which may or may not reflect the most currently available public information, is not provided as a basis for any established or existing relationship, and is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice, or to substitute for obtaining such advice from an attorney or other advisor licensed in your state.