Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Anti-Kickback Statute, which has become a tool often used by federal prosecutors to combat fraud in the healthcare industry. In honor of this milestone, Law360 interviewed former U.S. Department of Justice lawyers turned whistleblower attorneys Renée Brooker and Eva Gunasekera of Tycko & Zavareei LLP. During the interview, they discussed how enforcement of the Anti-Kickback Statute has grown significantly over the past 50 years and its importance in protecting taxpayers and curbing fraud in the healthcare industry. Ms. Brooker and Ms. Gunasekera also touched on False Claims Act litigation related to kickbacks and alleged violations, noting that these cases often involve “damning evidence” against corporate defendants but defense attorneys are often unwilling to settle, leading to expensive defense costs for companies.
