The following report of health care fraud really stretches the boundaries of fraudulent behavior and the belief that the government can self-regulate it’s programs to detect such activity. As reported by Associate Press writer Shayha Mohajer on August 10, 2011, two pastors in the now-defunct Los Angeles church, Arms of Grace Christen Center, abused their...

Qui Tam is a federal statute that permits private individuals a monetary remedy for successfully bringing suits alleging frauds committed upon the federal government. Without qui tam actions, many reports of wrongdoing against the government would otherwise go unnoticed. The economic incentives provided by qui tam actions promote private enforcement of federal legislation. What does...

The public disclosure bar generally precludes qui tam relators from bringing actions based upon publicly disclosed information unless the relator is an original source of the information. Before the passage in 2010 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”), the False Claims Act (“FCA”) specifically prohibited private suits “based upon the...

  There are a few common theories of liability the law follows when it comes to committing a false claim against the government. False claims found when a government contractor: [1] Presents a False Claim – knowingly presents or causes to be presented to the Government a fraudulent claim for payment or approval [2] Uses...

Trump Administration Invites Health Care Industry to Help Rewrite Ban on Kickbacks WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has labored zealously to cut federal regulations, but its latest move has still astonished some experts on health care: It has asked for recommendations to relax rules that prohibit kickbacks and other payments intended to influence care for...

  Signed into law on March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act”) narrowed the bar against bringing suits based on public disclosure by restricting the public disclosure bar to only information publicly disclosed at the Federal level – not at the State or Local level. The Affordable Care...

  Since the revitalization of the False Claims Act (“FCA”) by the 1986 Amendments, the U.S. Government has aggressively pursued civil, criminal, and administrative actions against those who swindle money from the Federal treasury. Since there is no shortage of corrupt contractors, the Government and regulators have been busy. The Department of Justice reported, in...

  A recently passed law in the state of New York will allow IRS whistleblowers to file qui tam lawsuits against the wealthy who cheat on their taxes under the False Claims Act. Under the qui tam law, whistleblowers who file suits against those who defraud the government can receive a portion of the potential...

Steve Feinberg’s big bets on war and weapons have gotten him into another financial mess – and this time his troubles are stoking concerns about potential conflicts of interest as he sits as an adviser to the White House. The billionaire gun enthusiast’s buyout firm – Cerberus Capital – took a hit this spring as...