The Department of Justice recovered $3 billion in false claims cases during fiscal year 2010. This includes the largest ever in health care fraud recoveries – $2.5 billion – and the second largest annual recovery of civil fraud claims. In addition, the $5.4 billion recovered since January 2009 by federal programs and the Treasury under the False Claims Act has exceeded any previous two-year period.  Recoveries since 1986, when Congress strengthened the False Claims act, now total more than $27 billion.

The Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) was founded in May 2009 to continue to fight fraud committed against public health care programs. This interagency task force protects Medicare and Medicaid, as well as resulting in higher quality health care for all citizens.

False Claims Act cases successfully resolved this year included acts committed against federal health care programs, wartime and government procurement contracts, grants for small businesses, bullet-proof vests for law enforcement, federally insured mortgages, federal and Indian mineral leases, and other federal programs.

Most of the cases were initiated by whistleblowers, who are the government’s primary weapon in the battle against fraud. In fiscal year 2010, whistleblowers were awarded a total of $385 million for their critical role in coming forward.

Read the entire press release, “Department of Justice Recovers $3 Billion in False Claims Cases in Fiscal Year 2010”