Edgar Bueno

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200 East Saint Julian Street
PO Box 9848
Savannah, GA 31412-0048

Tel 912.236.0261
Fax 912.236.4936

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Edgar Bueno is a partner and co-chair of HunterMaclean’s health care practice group. He also works in the litigation practice group, where he focuses on representing businesses and individuals involved in health care fraud investigations, False Claims Act matters, reimbursement audits, and complex commercial litigation.

Edgar has significant litigation experience handling state and federal False Claim Act matters and qui tam whistleblower actions. Edgar also represents clients who are subjects or targets of civil, criminal, or grand jury investigations focusing on securing dismissals or other favorable outcomes before indictment or the filing of charges.

In addition, he regularly advises clients on a wide range of health care regulatory and compliance issues including the anti-kickback statute, physician self-referral, EKRA, overpayments, voluntary self-disclosures, civil monetary penalties and program exclusion, OIG corporate integrity agreements, EMTALA, licensing requirements and HIPAA privacy. He also assists clients with compliance reviews and assessments, as well as internal investigations to respond to legal risks.

Edgar is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. In this role, he supervised the entire division and managed all aspects of federal court litigation for numerous high-profile cases. Under his tenure, the office achieved an unprecedented number of FCA actions and recoveries on behalf of the United States.

Edgar started his legal career as an attorney with the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

He is a frequent and popular speaker at health care conferences focusing on fraud and abuse, compliance, and strategies for responding to government investigations. Edgar is also an adjunct instructor of health law classes about the federal healthcare programs. He has served as an instructor at the Department of Justice training center (NAC) and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Edgar has received several recognitions from the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for exceptional achievement in combatting healthcare fraud. 

Experience

Practice Areas / Industries

Practice Areas

Industries

Representative Engagements

Representative Engagements

  • Represented a large physician practice in a False Claims Act qui tam action involving numerous allegations of health care fraud and abuse. The case included a successful appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals regarding whistleblower share and attorney fees.
  • Represented several clinical and genetic testing laboratories in DOJ fraud investigations.
  • Represented a medical supply company in a COVID related criminal investigation and forfeiture action.
  • Represented providers, business associates, and other covered entities in OCR investigations for alleged HIPAA privacy and security violations.
  • Represented a chain of nursing homes and its owner in a False Claims Act investigation involving improper Medicare billing of services. The engagement included the negotiation of a corporate integrity agreement with the OIG.
  • Represented a national teleradiology company and its owner in a False Claims Act qui tam action regarding allegations of improper billing.
  • Represented a cardiology practice and a podiatry practice in a False Claims Act qui tam action involving allegations of upcoding, Stark Law and Anti-Kickback violations, and substandard quality of care. A central issue involved the ownership structure of a surgery center.
  • Represented a physician practice in a False Claims Act qui tam action involving allegations of Anti-Kickback violations through “sham” agreements with outside vendors and suppliers.
  • Represented a hospital in a False Claims Act qui tam action involving outpatient hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other wound care services. DOJ declined to intervene and the matter was dismissed.
  • Represented an orthopedic practice in a False Claims Act investigation involving allegations of improper injections and treatments.
  • Represented a pain practice in a multi-district OIG investigation involving allegations of improper treatment, billing, and lab orders.
  • Represented a podiatry practice in a large health care fraud investigation. No criminal charges were filed, and the case was resolved through a civil settlement.
  • Represented a pulmonology practice in a False Claims Act investigation involving billing for critical care services, documentation, and allegations of upcoding.
  • Represented business owners and health care providers prosecuted by the DOJ Healthcare Fraud Strike Force in conjunction with Operations Brace Yourself, Double Helix, and Rubber Stamp.
  • Represented pharmacies, pharmacists, and other providers/registrants in DEA and state investigations involving dispensing, storage, and violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
  • Represented several behavioral health providers in state and federal investigations involving allegations of improper billing, inadequate documentation, and resident misconduct.
  • Represented several hospitals before state surveyors and the OIG for alleged EMTALA violations. The engagements included reviews and revisions to policies and procedures.
  • Represented an accredited college in a “diploma mill” investigation by the Department of Education, FBI, and IRS. No criminal charges were filed.
  • Represented several government contractors in criminal investigations involving allegations of kickbacks and contract steering. The government closed the investigations with no charges being filed.
  • Represented a global freight and logistics contractor in a False Claims Act qui tam investigation that resulted in DOJ declining the case.

Community Work

Community Work

  • Pro Bono Representation
  • Volunteer Football Coach (middle school)

Credentials

Education

Education

George Washington University School of Law: J.D., 1997 (Moot Court)

University of Chicago: B.A., Political Science, 1992

Affiliations

Affiliations

  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Health Care Compliance Association
  • Savannah Bar Association

Recognition

Recognition

Best Lawyers in America: Health Care Law

Law 360 Editorial Advisory Board for Compliance, 2024

OIG Bronze Medal for Outstanding Employee of the Year: 2003

OIG Exceptional Achievement Award: 1999, 2001, 2002

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Licensed In

Licensed In

Georgia

Virginia

Insights

Articles

Fisheries Recent Case Update

October 19, 2023

Authored by Justin Guthrie, this update was distributed to the Maritime Law Association and discusses recent noteworthy admiralty cases that involve fisheries-related issues, specifically decisions by the federal circuit courts…

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Presentations

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