Common Types of Qui Tam Cases

Healthcare

The most common type of fraud against the government falls within the healthcare industry.  The Department of Health and Human Services was named in roughly 50% of all the qui tam cases that have been filed since 1987.  Recent studies have shown that Medicare fraud is one of the most common types of qui tam cases filed.  Unscrupulous healthcare providers can cost the federal government billions of dollars per year through the various fraudulent schemes used to cheat Medicare and Medicaid.  These frauds include but are not limited to services not rendered or add on services, upcoding schemes, unbundling schemes, illegal kickbacks, lack of medical necessity and fraudulent cost reports just to name a few.  

Defense

Defense contractor fraud is also a very common method in which individuals and/or companies cost the federal government and taxpayers millions each year. Next to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense is the second most frequently named agency constituting nearly 30% of all the qui tam filings since 1987. Defense contractors use fraudulent tactics such as cross charging, product substitution, improper cost allocation, failure to comply with contract negotiations and violations of the Truth in Negotiations Act (“TINA”).  

Other Types of Fraud

Despite the fact that healthcare and defense are the industries in which government fraud is most prevalent, a qui tam action can exist in almost any industry where the government is paying for goods and/or services.  Some of the other areas in which government fraud can arise are environmental programs, customs, research programs, public works projects, federal government construction, loan guarantees, underpayment of royalties on government leased lands, agricultural subsidies and municipal bond market.  The reality is that where someone is receiving payment for goods or services from the government, the potential variations of fraud are only limited by the imagination of the unscrupulous contractor.  

If you believe you have a qui tam case, please contact us today for a free legal consultation.

Learn more about your qui tam rights:

        >  Why SimmonsCooper

        >  Filing a Lawsuit

        >  Recent Qui Tam News