6,000 Whistleblowers and Still Counting

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported having secured $3.8 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud against the government. ¹  This was the second largest annual recovery and fourth year in a row that the DOJ has recovered more than $3 billion. In fact, 2013 was only surpassed by last year’s nearly $5 billion figure.  Since January 2009, over $17 billion has been recovered through this process and is nearly half the total recoveries since the Act was amended 27 years ago in 1986.  Most of these cases were brought under the “whistleblower” or qui tam provisions that allow individuals to file lawsuits alleging false claims on behalf of the government.  If the government prevails in the action, the whistleblower, known as a relator, receives up to 30 percent of the recovery.

1. www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/December/13-civ-1352.html.

About the Author

Richard P. Kusserow established Strategic Management Services, LLC, after retiring from being the DHHS Inspector General, and has assisted over 3,000 health care organizations and entities in developing, implementing and assessing compliance programs.