Informing Employees, Contractors and Agents of Details of the Federal False Claims Act, Protections for Reporting Individuals, Penalties for Violations, and Relevant State Laws
Statement of Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to inform employees, contractors and agents of MidState Medical Center of the federal False Claims Act (referenced in this policy as "FCA"), and to provide general information regarding MidState Medical Center's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the healthcare system, and to describe the remedies and fines for violations that can result from certain types of fraudulent activities.
Reporting Fraud, Waste, or Abuse: All employees, contractors, agents, and volunteers of MidState Medical Center must immediately report to the hospital's compliance officer, any suspicion of fraud, waste, or abuse in connection with the business of MidState Medical Center. MidState Medical Center engages in specific compliance efforts to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, such as maintaining a corporate compliance hotline to report potential compliance issues; providing annual compliance education; screening all potential employees for sanctions and exclusions, criminal background, drug use and, TB exposure. Sanction and exclusion checks are done on all vendors. All new employees sign an attestation to abide by MidState Medical Center’s Code of Conduct. The Code articulates consequences for violation of the Code.
If you would like more information on MidState Medical Center's compliance program or policies, or on how to report any concerns, please contact Elizabeth DeSanto RN, JD, Director of Corporate Compliance at 694-8643.
Detailed Information of the Federal False Claims Act
The federal False Claims Act (FCA) imposes civil penalties on people and companies who knowingly submit a false claim or statement to a federally funded program, or otherwise conspire to defraud the government, in order to receive payment. It also protects people who report suspected fraud.
The FCA is not confined to healthcare claims, but extends to any payment requested of the federal government. The FCA applies to billing and claims sent from MidState Medical Center to any government payor program, including Medicare and Medicaid.
It is the policy of MidState Medical Center that an employee, contractor, or agent of MidState Medical Center who submits a false claim will be reported to the necessary authorities. Anyone, or any company, that submits a false claim or statement to the government may be fined under the FCA between $5,500 and $11,000 for each such claim submitted, regardless of the size of the false claim, and the person or company could be required to pay an additional fine of three times the value of any charges.
Part of the FCA's purpose is to create an environment where employees and others feel safe reporting concerns about fraud. MidState Medical Center fully supports that goal. Any person who lawfully reports information about false claims or suspected false claims that are submitted by others, may not be retaliated against, demoted, suspended, threatened, or harassed by the MidState Medical Center for making such a report. The FCA also protects individuals who assist in an investigation, provide testimony, or participate in the government's handling of a false claim.
The FCA provisions are generally enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice. The FCA provides that a person may initiate a formal claim if he or she is the "original source" of the information. This means that the person bringing the claim must have direct and independent knowledge of the alleged fraud. If any funds are recovered, a portion of the funds may be paid to the person who initiated the formal claim, at the discretion of a federal court. This amount, if awarded, generally is between 15% and 30% of the total damage amount.
If a person wishes to file a claim regarding fraud or suspected fraud related to a healthcare payment directly with the government, he or she must first present a formal complaint, along with all material evidence relating to the alleged fraud, to the authorities at the U.S. Department of Justice. The authorities have 60 days to investigate, during which time the complaint is kept confidential. Upon completion of the investigation, the government will decide either to pursue the case on its own or decline to proceed with the case. If the federal government declines the case, the individual may still proceed with the case on his or her own, but without the government's assistance, and at his or her own expense.
A private legal action under the FCA must be brought within six years from the date that the false claim was submitted to the government. (A government-initiated claim may be brought up to ten years after the false claim, depending on the circumstances.)
Detailed Information of the Federal Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act
Persons or companies that commit fraud on the federal government, by false claim or statement, can be assessed monetary penalties in addition to the penalties of the False Claims Act because of a law called the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act (referenced in this policy as "PFCRA"). Specifically, PFCRA penalties of $5,000 per false claim or statement apply if a person or company submits a claim to the federal government that: the person or company knows or has reason to know is false, fictitious, or fraudulent; includes or is supported by written statements containing false, fictitious, or fraudulent information; includes or is supported by written statements that omit a material fact, which causes the statements to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent, and the person submitting the statement has a duty to include the omitted fact; or is for payment of property or services that are not provided as claimed.
The $5,000 penalty also applies if a person or company provides written back-up or materials relating to the claim in which the person or company asserts a material fact that is false, fictitious or fraudulent; or omits a fact that the individual had a duty to include, the omission causes the statement to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent, and the statement contains a certification of accuracy.
Connecticut State Law
It is a crime in Connecticut to bill Medicaid or the general assistance program fraudulently. All employees, contractors and agents of MidState Medical Center must immediately report suspicion of any criminal activity occurring at MidState Medical Center, including criminal fraud, to the hospital's compliance officer.
Anyone who provides services to a state Medicaid beneficiary and seeks or accepts payment for unnecessary or improper services is subject to possible imprisonment and/or criminal fines under state law. Depending upon the amount of the fraudulent services involved, such offenses carry potentially significant penalties, with a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000.
Anyone who provides services to a recipient of Connecticut's general assistance program and seeks or accepts payment for unnecessary or improper services is also subject to civil and criminal penalties. Depending upon the amount of the fraudulent services involved, such offenses carry a minimum one-year prison sentence and a maximum of 20 years, as well as a maximum fine of $15,000. Any person who defrauds Connecticut's general assistance program is also excluded from participating in the program for a minimum of one year.
Connecticut law protects employees who report suspected violations of state or federal law, including reports of criminal fraud. An employer may not discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize an employee for reporting a violation of the law, or suspected violation, as long as the employee does not know the information being reported is false.
References: Section 6032 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733
31 U.S.C. §§ 3801-3812
Connecticut General Statutes § 31-51m
Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-290 et seq.
Connecticut General Statutes § 17b-127
<Compliance program>
<Handbook>
MidState Medical Center Code of Conduct
MidState Medical Center Employee Hotline for Reporting Fraud: 1-800-431-5572
Criminal:
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 53a-290 et seq. (Vendor Fraud)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 53-440 et. seq. (Health Insurance Fraud)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 53a-118 et seq. (Larceny)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 53a-155 (Tampering/Fabricating Evidence)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 53a-157 (False Statement to Public Servant)
Fraud:
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 17b-25a (Vendor Fraud Hotline)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 17b-99 (Vendor Fraud)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 17b-102 (Financial Incentive for Reporting Fraud)
Regs. Conn. State Agencies Sec. 17-83k-1 et seq. (Administrative Sanctions)
Regs. Conn. State Agencies Sec. 17b-102-01 et seq. (Financial Incentive for Reporting Fraud
and Payment Requirements)
Whistle Blower Protections:
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 4-61dd (Whistleblowing)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51m (Protection for Employee Reporting Fraud)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51q (Non-Retaliation Liability of Employer)
Regs. Conn. State Agencies Sec. 4-61dd-1 et seq (Rules of Practice for Contested Case
Proceedings under the Whistleblowers Protection Act)