United States ex rel. Shea v. eHealth, Inc. et al.

Why this Matters:

The Department of Justice joined a whistleblower case under the False Claims Act against leading health insurers and insurance broker organizations alleging illegal kickbacks associated with Medicare Advantage enrollment as well as discrimination against Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. The rapid growth in Medicare Advantage enrollment in recent years has magnified attention to overpayments, abuse, and fraud.

Potential Impact:

Improper enrollment schemes and discrimination under the Medicare Advantage program could jeopardize patient access to care and prevent the federal government from ensuring that taxpayer funds are spent appropriately.