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PaigeTrop-09901-Newsletter-June -2009

WRONGFUL DEATH | VEHICLE ACCIDENTS | MEDICAL MALPRACTICE | NURSING HOME ABUSE
PREMISES LIABILITY | PRODUCT LIABILITY | INSURANCE DISPUTES | TOBACCO LITIGATION

Whistleblowers Help US Save Taxpayer Dollars

Have you worked for a company that submits bills to government programs such as Medicare or Medicaid?

Every year, billions of taxpayer dollars are lost to fraud in federal and state health care programs.  To stop this type of fraud, the US government passed the False Claims Act.  Under the False Claims Act, any contractor that has knowingly presented a false claim for payment to the United States is committing fraud.  The False Claims Act provides financial incentives to citizen whistleblowers to retain attorneys and come forward, prosecute these lawsuits and fight government fraud.  That is called Qui Tam litigation.

People who file qui tam lawsuits are generally current or former employees of companies that commit fraud.  However, it is also possible for anyone, like a patient, competitor or subcontractor who knows of a situation where the government has paid false claims to file a qui tam lawsuit.

A few examples of fraud are:

  • Charging for services never performed
  • Submitting bills for expensive equipment and providing cheaper equipment
  • Multiple billing for the same service
  • Routinely waiving copayments
  • Someone other than the physician completing the Certificate of Medical Necessity
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PROTECTING THE PEOPLE NOT THE POWERFUL

Damages and fines
The law specifies that a liable defendant pay three times the government’s claim.  In addition, the defendant must also pay the attorney fees and the case-related expenses of the whistleblower’s attorney.

Whistleblower’s reward
Congress decided to give whistleblowers a share of the recoveries that result from qui tam lawsuits to give people a strong incentive to step forward in reporting fraud.  Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers are entitled between 15 and 30 percent of whatever amount the government recovers as a result of their qui tam lawsuits. 

If you or someone you know has evidence of Medicare / Medicaid fraud and wants to become a whistleblower, our firm can help you stop this fraud and obtain a portion of the money recovered.  The first step is to speak with us before you do anything.  Contact Paige, Trop & Ameen, P.A. for a free, confidential consultation.