In recent years, fraud cases brought under the False Claims Act have primarily involved health care and defense contracting.  However, fraud can occur in any industry.  Some of the other programs in which fraud has been committed include research programs, agricultural subsidies, customs, transportation, environmental programs, public works, and government construction, among many others.

Some specific examples of fraud perpetrated against the government include:

• Overcharging for products purchased at a lower rate
• Billing for medical services never rendered
• Billing for equipment never used
• Performing and then billing for services that are not medically necessary
• Billing services at a physician’s rate when a nurse or other staff member actually performed the services
• Substituting a product that is not in conformity with the government contract
• Selling defective or unreliable parts
• Double billing or charging more than once for the same service
• “Up-Coding” by performing simple services but billing for complex ones
• Submitting false cost reports seeking reimbursement
• Billing for brand-named drugs when generic ones were actually issued
• Paying “kickbacks” to a physician to influence him or her to prescribe a certain drug, use a specific item of equipment, etc.

The information in this website is not intended to be legal advice.  We recommend that anyone not currently represented by an attorney who is reading this page to understand the law involved in False Claims Act or other cases seek experienced counsel to evaluate, file and pursue, if appropriate, any potential case on your behalf.