The state of Texas has been ordered to pay three whistleblowers more than $37 million in a 13-year-old case relating to Medicaid fraud alleging improper billings by dentists and corporate dental chains.
State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of Travis County on Dec. 19 handed down the award, which amounts to 17.5% of a record 2019 settlement of more than $200 million the state reached with Xerox State Healthcare, formerly known as ACS State Healthcare.
According to a news release from the lawyers who represented whistleblowers Alexandra Alvarez, Joshua LaFountain and Christine Ellis, the state had settled the lawsuit but balked at paying a percentage of the award proceeds to those who had brought the allegations to light as required by a provision in a state fraud prevention law.