False Claims Act Violations
The False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-33, allows an individual who discovers that an organization is defrauding the federal government to sue that organization on behalf of the government. If the lawsuit is successful, the person bringing the lawsuit may be entitled to receive a part of the money returned to the government. Types of fraud covered by the False Claims Act include but are not limited to Medicare fraud, delivering goods of lower quality than required, making a claim for goods or services that were never delivered, giving or receiving bribes or kickbacks, and avoiding or reducing payments required to be made to the government.
Some examples of potential False Claims Act violations are:
- You work for a healthcare provider that submits false information to Medicare and Medicaid programs, and receives reimbursement for services that were never performed or drugs that were never given to the patients.
- Your employer has a contract with the government, but deliberately cuts corners and fails to follow the terms of the contract.
- You work for a pharmacy that charges Medicare and Medicaid patients more for their drugs than other patients, provides lesser quality drugs than is required by law, promotes and sells drugs for uses not approved by the FDA, receives bribes or kickbacks for prescribing certain drugs, or tries to get doctors to sell its drugs by giving them money or prizes.
- Your employer retaliates against you because you have assisted in an investigation or brought a lawsuit against your employer involving fraud against the government.
Nichols Kaster & Anderson, PLLP has litigation experience in many types of cases, including False Claims Act violations. If you think you may become involved in litigation with your employer, feel free to contact us.
|