CMA has filed an amicus brief in a Medicare whistleblower case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, arguing that a violation of state corporate bar laws can be grounds for filing a whistleblower claim for fraudulent Medicare billing. Medicare requires providers to certify that they are in compliance with all state laws. The CMA amicus brief does not comment on the facts in the underlying case, but rather defends the integrity of a state’s corporate bar as it relates to Medicare billing.

On a related note, CMA expects labor unions and hospitals to continue their efforts to weaken California’s corporate bar in the state Legislature this year. We are working both to protect the corporate bar and improve access to physicians in areas which may be underserved, the ostensible reason proponents offer for weakening the corporate bar.

Contact: Samantha Pellon, 916/551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org.