Qui Tam/False Claims Act

The False Claims Act was enacted to protect the public fisc by encouraging private citizens to uncover fraud and to supplement the limited prosecutorial and investigative resources of the federal government. Indeed, as evidenced throughout the storied False Claims Act history, Congress specifically crafted and later retooled the False Claims Act so that everyday private citizens had an effective weapon for fighting dishonest corporate giants that pilfered government funds.

Over the years, the legal requirements involving knowledge and intent sufficient to attach FCA liability has evolved, but the basic trigger has remained the same—namely, persons and entities wrongfully seeking government funds. Presently, most False Claims Act qui tam actions are the result of healthcare fraud which impacts Government Healthcare Programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare. Such cases oftentimes include healthcare providers who are rightfully troubled and have the moral fortitude and courage to file qui tam lawsuits and receive a reward if successful.

With over $35 billion recovered under the modern False Claims Act, the success of the False Claims Act is unparalleled and unquestioned.

• What is a False Claim? - gives examples of the different types of healthcare fraud false claims.

• Typical Healthcare Fraud Whistleblowers – provides examples of whistleblower vantage points.

• False Claims Act History - provides a summary of the history of the False Claims Act.

• Reasons for the False Claims Act - provides the congressional reasoning behind the 1986 amendments to the False Claims Act, which revitalized the qui tam mechanism and is the reason for the great success of the law.

• FAQ - provides answers to frequently-asked-questions that potential clients have asked over the years.

Who can be a Defendant – describes numerous defendant types as virtually all healthcare providers and suppliers can be defendants as Congress intended the Act to protect all government funds.